Abstract
The poultry industry is constantly demanding novel strategies to improve the productivity and health status of hens, prioritizing those based on the holistic use of natural resources. This study aimed to assess the effects of an Allium-based phytobiotic on productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota of laying hens. One hundred and ninety-two 14-week-old Lohmann Lite LSL hens were allocated into an experimental farm, fed with a commercial concentrate with and without the Allium-based phytobiotic, and challenged against Salmonella. Productivity, egg quality, and fecal microbiota were monitored for 20 weeks. Results showed that the phytobiotic caused an increase on the number of eggs laid (p < 0.05) and in the feed conversion rate (p < 0.05); meanwhile, egg quality, expressed as egg weight, albumin height, haugh units, egg shell strength, and egg shell thickness remained unchanged (p > 0.05), although yolk color was decreased. Fecal microbiota structure was also modified, indicating a modulation of the gut microbiota by increasing the presence of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes but reducing Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla. Predicted changes in the functional profiles of fecal microbiota suggest alterations in metabolic activities that could be responsible for the improvement and maintenance of productivity and egg quality when the phytobiotic was supplemented; thus, Allium-based phytobiotic has a major impact on the performance of laying hens associated with a possible gut microbiota modulation.
Highlights
Gut microbiota, represented by bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotes, take part in regulating several functions in both humans and animals [1]
An Allium-based phytobiotic mixture was successfully supplemented to Salmonella challenged and not-challenged Lohmann Lite LSL laying hens in order to assess the effects on productivity and the profile of fecal-associated bacterial communities
The supplementation of laying hens with a phytobiotic comprising a blend of onion and garlic extracts enhanced the productivity of laying hens, even when they were exposed to Salmonella Pullorum
Summary
Gut microbiota, represented by bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotes, take part in regulating several functions in both humans and animals [1]. It has been estimated that the chicken gut can be colonized by at least 1000 different microbial strains that are involved in maintaining the intestinal health of hens while sustaining productivity and growth [2,3]. This microbiota takes part in various metabolic pathways related to nutrient digestion and absorption, including the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) [4], which are important in several processes such as pH reduction and intestinal absorption of nutrients, among others [5]. A stable gut microbiota is generally observed from the fourth week of life, and remains that way unless there is a disruption associated with an abrupt change in the diet, infections by pathogens (including Salmonella infection), or some other 4.0/).
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