Gut Microbiota Dynamics, Growth Performance, and Gut Morphology in Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Varying in Energy Density with or without Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate (BMD).

Deborah Adewole,Fisayo Akinyemi

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9040787

Deborah Adewole, Fisayo Akinyemi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9040787

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Journal: Microorganisms	Publication Date: Apr 9, 2021
Citations: 16	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Dalhousie University

Abstract

High-energy-density diet could increase body weight at the expense of the intestinal health of the animals. In order to optimize production without negatively influencing the gut health of chickens, dietary supplementation with bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) is a common feeding strategy adopted to enhance production performance and intestinal health. Studies have suggested that BMD could improve chicken growth performance and gut health through modulation of the gut microbiota. The current study investigated the effect of BMD supplementation in a normal-energy (NE) or high-energy (HE) diet on growth performance, organ weights, jejunal morphology, and gut microbiota of broiler chickens at different growth stages. Birds were allocated to four treatments: normal-energy basal diet (NE-BAS), normal-energy BMD diet (NE-BMD), high-energy basal diet (HE-BAS), and high-energy BMD diet (HE-BMD). In the starter phase, body weight and body weight gain were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in chickens fed HE diets compared to those fed NE diets. The FCR was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in birds fed HE-BMD diets in the starter phase but lower (p < 0.05) during the grower phase when compared to other treatments. Moreover, the relative bursa weight increased significantly (p = 0.0220) among birds that received HE diets. Birds fed HE-BMD had greater villus height (p = 0.054) than NE-BMD group. Among the chickens fed the HE diets, those that received BMD treatment had a significantly increased (p = 0.003) villus width (13.3% increase) compared to those that received the basal diet. Improved population of Firmicutes was observed in chickens fed HE-BMD diet when compared to HE-BAS. Our results imply that BMD may be more effective in improving intestinal health when supplemented in a high-energy diet for broiler chickens.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilDietary energy density can be referred to as the amount of available energy per unit weight [1]
Our results imply that bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) may be more effective in improving intestinal health when supplemented in a high-energy diet for broiler chickens
During the starter phase, chickens fed BMD in the high-energy group had lower body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) and higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to those fed the basal diet in the normal-energy group, while other treatments were intermediate

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilDietary energy density can be referred to as the amount of available energy per unit weight [1]. Dietary energy and nutrient density have been reported to have a significant impact on gut health and growth performance [2,3,4]. The impact of high-energy-density diets in poultry could be beneficial, and at the same time detrimental. High-energy-density diets have been shown to increase body weight gain [5,6] and improve feed conversion efficiency [7,8] in poultry. Lamot et al [9] reported an increase in gain-tofeed ratio during the first week of life for broiler chickens exposed to higher diet densities. Studies have shown that changes in dietary energy density induce rapid changes in the composition of bacteria that colonizes the intestinal tract of mammals [10]. Other studies with mice and rats have shown that high-energy diets can trigger microbiota dysbiosis due to an imbalance between iations

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