Assessing the impact of hatching system and body weight on the growth performance, caecal short-chain fatty acids, and microbiota composition and functionality in broilers. - 2024
Assessing the impact of hatching system and body weight on the growth performance, caecal short-chain fatty acids, and microbiota composition and functionality in broilers.
Akram, Muhammad Zeeshan; Sureda, Ester Arévalo; Comer, Lukeet al.
Flock uniformity; Growth performance; Gut health; Microbiome; Poultry; Veterinary (miscellaneous); Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous); Animal Science and Zoology; Microbiology (medical)
Abstract :
[en] [en] BACKGROUND: 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.
RESULTS: 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.
CONCLUSIONS: 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.
Disciplines :
Animal production & animal husbandry
Author, co-author :
Akram, Muhammad Zeeshan ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre ; Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems Laboratory, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, 3000, Belgium
Sureda, Ester Arévalo; Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems Laboratory, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, 3000, Belgium
Comer, Luke; Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems Laboratory, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, 3000, Belgium
Corion, Matthias; Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems Laboratory, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, 3000, Belgium
Everaert, Nadia; Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems Laboratory, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, 3000, Belgium. nadia.everaert@kuleuven.be
Language :
English
Title :
Assessing the impact of hatching system and body weight on the growth performance, caecal short-chain fatty acids, and microbiota composition and functionality in broilers.
H2020 - 955374 - MonoGutHealth - TRAINING AND RESEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN GUT HEALTH AND REDUCE LOSSES IN MONOGASTRIC LIVESTOCK
Funders :
EU - European Union
Funding text :
The funding for this research study was provided by the MONOGUTHEALTH project, which is supported by the Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks grant (agreement no. 955374) from the European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 research program.
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