Akram Muhammad Zeeshan, Sureda Ester Arévalo, Comer Luke, Corion Matthias, Everaert Nadia
Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems Laboratory, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, 3000, Belgium.
Precision Livestock and Nutrition Laboratory, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, University of Liège, Gembloux, B-5030, Belgium.
Anim Microbiome. 2024 Jul 24;6(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s42523-024-00331-6.
Variations in body weight (BW) remain a significant challenge within broiler flocks, despite uniform management practices. Chicken growth traits are influenced by gut microbiota, which are in turn shaped by early-life events like different hatching environments and timing of first feeding. Chicks hatched in hatcheries (HH) experience prolonged feed deprivation, which could adversely impact early microbiota colonization. Conversely, hatching on-farm (HOF) allows early feeding, potentially fostering a more favorable gut environment for beneficial microbial establishment. This study investigates whether BW differences among broilers are linked to the disparities in gut microbiota characteristics and whether hatching systems (HS) impact the initial microbial colonization of broilers differing in BW, which in turn affects their growth patterns. Male Ross-308 chicks, either hatched in a hatchery or on-farm, were categorized into low (LBW) and high (HBW) BW groups on day 7, making a two-factorial design (HS × BW). Production parameters were recorded periodically. On days 7, 14, and 38, cecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) and microbiota composition and function (using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and PICRUSt2) were examined.
HOF chicks had higher day 1 BW, but HH chicks caught up within first week, with no further HS-related performance differences. The HBW chicks remained heavier attributed to higher feed intake rather than improved feed efficiency. HBW group had higher acetate concentration on day 14, while LBW group exhibited higher isocaproate on day 7 and isobutyrate on days 14 and 38. Microbiota analyses revealed diversity and composition were primarily influenced by BW than by HS, with HS having minimal impact on BW-related microbiota. The HBW group on various growth stages was enriched in VFA-producing bacteria like unclassified Lachnospiraceae, Alistipes and Faecalibacterium, while the LBW group had higher abundances of Lactobacillus, Akkermansia and Escherichia-Shigella. HBW microbiota presented higher predicted functional potential compared to the LBW group, with early colonizers exhibiting greater metabolic activity than late colonizers.
Despite differences in hatching conditions, the effects of HS on broiler performance were transient, and barely impacting BW-related microbiota. BW variations among broilers are likely linked to differences in feed intake, VFA profiles, and distinct microbiota compositions and functions.
尽管采用了统一的管理措施，但肉鸡群体内体重（BW）的差异仍然是一个重大挑战。鸡的生长性状受肠道微生物群影响，而肠道微生物群又受早期生活事件如不同的孵化环境和首次喂食时间的影响。在孵化场（HH）孵化的雏鸡经历较长时间的饲料剥夺，这可能对早期微生物群定殖产生不利影响。相反，农场孵化（HOF）允许早期喂食，可能为有益微生物的建立营造更有利的肠道环境。本研究调查了肉鸡之间的体重差异是否与肠道微生物群特征的差异有关，以及孵化系统（HS）是否影响体重不同的肉鸡的初始微生物定殖，进而影响它们的生长模式。将在孵化场或农场孵化的雄性罗斯308雏鸡在第7天分为低体重（LBW）和高体重（HBW）组，形成二因素设计（HS×BW）。定期记录生产参数。在第7、14和38天，检测盲肠挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）以及微生物群的组成和功能（使用16S rRNA基因测序和PICRUSt2）。
HOF雏鸡第1天的体重较高，但HH雏鸡在第一周内赶上，之后没有与孵化系统相关的性能差异。HBW雏鸡由于采食量较高而保持较重体重，而非饲料效率提高。HBW组在第14天乙酸盐浓度较高，而LBW组在第7天异己酸盐浓度较高，在第14天和第38天异丁酸盐浓度较高。微生物群分析显示，多样性和组成主要受体重影响，而非孵化系统，孵化系统对与体重相关的微生物群影响最小。不同生长阶段的HBW组富含产生VFA的细菌，如未分类的毛螺菌科、阿里斯杆菌属和粪杆菌属，而LBW组乳酸杆菌属、阿克曼氏菌属和埃希氏菌-志贺氏菌属的丰度较高。与LBW组相比，HBW微生物群具有更高的预测功能潜力，早期定殖者比晚期定殖者表现出更大的代谢活性。
尽管孵化条件存在差异，但孵化系统对肉鸡性能的影响是短暂的，对与体重相关的微生物群几乎没有影响。肉鸡之间的体重差异可能与采食量、VFA谱以及不同的微生物群组成和功能有关。
