Liu Ai, Zhu Yongcai, Yang Shenglin, Yao Bingnong, Liao Fuyou, Zhu Baoguo
Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.
College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.
Front Microbiol. 2025 Jun 13;16:1605305. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1605305. eCollection 2025.
, a traditional Chinese herb with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has not been extensively studied for its effects on poultry gut microbiota and behavior. This study evaluated the impact of supplementation (0, 2, and 4%) on growth performance, cecal microbiota, and feather-pecking behavior in laying ducks. Ninety healthy 1-day-old ducks were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments for a 5-week growth trial, and 45 feather-pecking ducks were used to assess the behavioral and neurochemical effects. Before the trials, ducks were adapted to the experimental conditions for 7 days and fed a basal diet. The results showed no significant differences in body weight or average daily gain (ADG) among the groups ( > 0.05), but the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower in groups ( < 0.05). Cecal microbiota analysis revealed higher Chao 1 and ACE indices ( < 0.01), increased ( < 0.05), and decreased and in the verbena groups ( < 0.05). ( = 0.014), ( = 0.032), and ( = 0.036) were the predominant differential phyla, whereas ( = 0.003), ( = 0.039), and ( < 0.001) were the predominant differential genera. Feather-pecking duration and hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) levels were reduced in verbena groups ( < 0.05), with NE negatively correlated with ( < 0.05). In conclusion, 2% supplementation promotes beneficial gut microbiota changes and reduces feather-pecking behavior, although the underlying mechanisms require further investigation.
[一种具有抗氧化和抗炎特性的传统中草药]尚未对其对家禽肠道微生物群和行为的影响进行广泛研究。本研究评估了[该中草药]添加量（0%、2%和4%）对蛋鸭生长性能、盲肠微生物群和啄羽行为的影响。90只健康的1日龄雏鸭被随机分配到三种日粮处理组，进行为期5周的生长试验，45只啄羽鸭用于评估行为和神经化学效应。试验前，雏鸭在试验条件下适应7天，并饲喂基础日粮。结果表明，各组之间的体重或平均日增重（ADG）无显著差异（P＞0.05），但[该中草药]添加组的饲料转化率（FCR）显著较低（P＜0.05）。盲肠微生物群分析显示，[该中草药]添加组的Chao 1和ACE指数较高（P＜0.01），[某种微生物]增加（P＜0.05），[另两种微生物]减少（P＜0.05）。[三种微生物名称]（P = 0.014）、[三种微生物名称]（P = 0.032）和[三种微生物名称]（P = 0.036）是主要的差异门，而[三种微生物名称]（P = 0.003）、[三种微生物名称]（P = 0.039）和[三种微生物名称]（P＜0.001）是主要的差异属。[该中草药]添加组的啄羽持续时间和下丘脑去甲肾上腺素（NE）水平降低（P＜0.05），NE与[啄羽持续时间]呈负相关（P＜0.05）。总之，添加2%的[该中草药]可促进有益的肠道微生物群变化并减少啄羽行为，尽管其潜在机制需要进一步研究。
