Chinese Herbal Medicine Compound Microecological Agent (C-MEA) Improves Egg Production Performance in Caged Laying Ducks via Microbiota-Gut-Ovary Axis.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a Chinese herbal medicine compound microecological agent (C-MEA) on the egg production performance, ovarian follicle development, ovary transcriptome, and cecal microbiota of caged laying ducks. A total of 108 black Muscovy ducks (150 days old) were randomly divided into three groups for 30 days in a formal feeding trial. Compared with the control basic diet (Group C) and 16 g/kg C-MEA dosage (Group B), the 8 g/kg C-MEA dosage (Group A) increased egg production (average laying rate 69.35%) and follicle development (57 Fs, 67 LYFs, 11~13 SYFs) mass ( < 0.05). According to RNA-Seq, the ovaries' transcriptome among different dietary groups enriched six key pathways, including neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, the PPAR signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, the adherens junction, and the FoxO signaling pathway, as well as 46 candidate key genes. According to 16S-Seq, the microbial diversity was significantly increased in Group A, and the genus abundances of and were significantly changed among different dietary groups ( < 0.05). Supplementation with C-MEA may optimize the cecal microflora and the interactions between the intestinal microflora and the host. The results from combining RNA-Seq and 16S-Seq demonstrated that the relationship between and the hub gene cluster (, , , , , , and ) is the most prominent. In conclusion, the egg performance of caged laying ducks can be modulated through the microbiota-gut-ovary axis. Our findings provide new insights for improving gut health and reproductive performance of caged laying ducks.