Akram Muhammad Zeeshan, Everaert Nadia, Dunisławska Aleksandra
Department of Biosystems, Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems Laboratory, KU Leuven, Heverlee, 3001, Belgium.
Precision Livestock and Nutrition Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, 5030, Belgium.
J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2024 Dec 7;15(1):165. doi: 10.1186/s40104-024-01122-4.
Hatch weight (HW) affects broiler growth and low HW (LHW) often leads to suboptimal performance. Sodium butyrate (SB) has been shown to promote growth through enhanced intestinal health. This study investigated how broilers with different HW responded to in ovo SB injection and whether SB could enhance gut health and performance in LHW chicks. Ross 308 broiler eggs were injected on incubation d 12 with physiological saline (control) or SB at 0.1% (SB1), 0.3% (SB3), or 0.5% (SB5). Post-hatch, male chicks from each treatment were categorized as high HW (HHW) or LHW and assigned to 8 groups in a 4 × 2 factorial design. Production parameters were recorded periodically. Intestinal weight, length, and gene expression related to gut barrier function and immune response were examined on d 14 and 42. Cecal microbiota dynamics and predicted functionality were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
SB treatments did not affect hatchability. HHW-control group exhibited consistently better weight gain and FCR than LHW-control group. SB dose-dependently influenced performance and gut health in both HW categories, with greater effects in LHW broilers at 0.3%. LHW-SB3 group attained highest body weight on d 42, exceeding controls but not significantly differing from HHW-SB3 group. LHW-SB3 group showed upregulation of gut-barrier genes CLDN1 in ileum, TJP1 in jejunum and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in both jejunum and ileum on d 14. Additionally, LHW-SB3 group upregulated mucin-producing MUC6 gene in ileum, while HHW-SB5 group increased pro-inflammatory IL-12p40 cytokine in caecum on d 42. LHW-SB3 group demonstrated shorter relative intestinal lengths, while HHW-SB5 had longer lengths. HHW-control group had higher bacterial diversity and growth-promoting bacteria while LHW-control group harbored the potential pathogen Helicobacter. SB reshaped gut microbiota biodiversity, composition, and predicted metabolic pathways in both HW categories. The LHW-SB3 group exhibited highest alpha diversity on d 14 and most beneficial bacteria at all timepoints. HHW-SB5 group presented increased pathogenic Escherichia-Shigella and Campylobacter on d 42.
HW significantly affects subsequent performance and SB has differential effects based on HW. LHW chicks benefited more from 0.3% SB, showing improvements in growth, intestinal development, health, and gut microbiota characteristics.
孵化重量（HW）会影响肉鸡生长，低孵化重量（LHW）往往导致性能欠佳。丁酸钠（SB）已被证明可通过改善肠道健康来促进生长。本研究调查了不同孵化重量的肉鸡对卵内注射SB的反应，以及SB是否能增强LHW雏鸡的肠道健康和性能。在孵化第12天，给罗斯308肉鸡种蛋注射生理盐水（对照）或0.1%（SB1）、0.3%（SB3）或0.5%（SB5）的SB。出壳后，将各处理的雄性雏鸡分为高孵化重量（HHW）或低孵化重量组，并按照4×2析因设计分为8组。定期记录生产参数。在第14天和第42天检查肠道重量、长度以及与肠道屏障功能和免疫反应相关的基因表达。使用16S rRNA基因测序分析盲肠微生物群动态和预测功能。
SB处理不影响孵化率。HHW对照组的体重增加和饲料转化率始终优于LHW对照组。SB剂量依赖性地影响两种孵化重量类别的肉鸡性能和肠道健康，对0.3%的LHW肉鸡影响更大。LHW-SB3组在第42天达到最高体重，超过对照组，但与HHW-SB3组无显著差异。LHW-SB3组在第14天回肠中肠道屏障基因CLDN1、空肠中TJP1以及空肠和回肠中抗炎细胞因子IL-10均上调。此外，LHW-SB3组回肠中产生粘蛋白的MUC6基因上调，而HHW-SB5组在第42天盲肠中促炎细胞因子IL-12p40增加。LHW-SB3组的相对肠道长度较短，而HHW-SB5组较长。HHW对照组的细菌多样性和促生长细菌较多，而LHW对照组存在潜在病原体幽门螺杆菌。SB重塑了两种孵化重量类别的肠道微生物群生物多样性、组成和预测的代谢途径。LHW-SB3组在第14天表现出最高的α多样性，并且在所有时间点都有最有益的细菌。HHW-SB5组在第42天致病性大肠杆菌-志贺氏菌属和弯曲杆菌增加。
孵化重量显著影响后续性能，SB根据孵化重量产生不同影响。LHW雏鸡从0.3%的SB中受益更多，在生长、肠道发育、健康和肠道微生物群特征方面均有改善。
