Simple Summary
This study examined the effects of omnivorous feeding on antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphological structure, gut microbiota, and meat quality in Xinghua and White Recessive Rock chickens. The results show that omnivorous feeding significantly altered the activities of antioxidant enzymes in serum or specific intestinal tissues and decreased the villus height-to-crypt depth (VH/CD) ratio in specific intestinal segments. Microbial analysis revealed that this feeding regime reshaped the gut microbiota structure and modulated beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium while altering related metabolic pathways. Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated that key genera, such as Bacillus, were significantly associated with meat quality traits, including pH, meat color, and shear force. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms linking omnivorous feeding, gut microbiota modulation, and meat quality traits. Theoretically, this study enriches the understanding of host–microbiome interactions under distinct dietary regimes. Practically, the identification of breed-specific responses offers valuable guidance for designing precision feeding protocols. These insights are critical for optimizing feed efficiency and meat quality, thereby promoting the sustainable utilization of omnivorous feed resources in animal production.
Abstract
The impacts of omnivorous feeding on intestinal morphology and microbial community structure remain a critical area of research in poultry science, uncovering potential biological mechanisms regulating growth and development. This study investigated how feeding regimes modulate antioxidant enzyme activities, intestinal morphological structure, gut microbiota, and the relationship between gut microbiota and meat quality. We conducted a comprehensive analysis integrating antioxidant enzyme activities, intestinal histomorphology, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Correlation analyses were performed to identify key microbial taxa influencing meat quality. Omnivorous feeding significantly altered the activities of certain antioxidant enzymes in the serum and selected intestinal tissues of both White Recessive Rock and Xinghua chickens. Omnivorous feeding significantly reduced the VH/CD ratio in specific intestinal segments. Microbial analysis revealed that omnivorous feeding modulated the relative abundances of Bacillus, Enterococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Romboutsia. These shifts promoted metabolic functions, including carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism. Crucially, correlation analysis identified Faecalibacterium, Bacillus, Romboutsia, Streptococcus, and unclassified UCG_010 as key genera significantly associated with meat quality traits. The findings suggest that omnivorous feeding shows the potential to improve poultry health and meat quality.