Search Results (1,113)

Antibiotic restrictions require safe alternatives. Tannic acid has antimicrobial and gut-regulatory properties, but data on its formulations are limited. This study employed an equal raw material inclusion design, adding three commercial tannic acid products at 250 mg/kg to compare their effects in yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 432 broilers were assigned to four groups: control, coated (LCTA), powdered (LPTA), or granular (LGTA) tannic acid. Growth performance did not differ among groups. LPTA numerically improved ADG and reduced serum urea, while LGTA increased triglycerides. LCTA enhanced CAT and SOD activities but also elevated MDA. All treatments reduced villus height, but LPTA improved VH/CD ratio. Claudin-1 and Occludin were downregulated; ZO-1 remained stable only in LPTA. LCTA increased IL-6; IL-10 and TNF-α decreased across treatments. LPTA appeared to maintain richness, increase diversity, and promote Bifidobacterium. The powdered form appeared to exhibit a relatively balanced profile with potential practical value, though formulation and active dose were confounded as products differed in purity (50%, 65%, 75%), resulting in different actual doses. Future studies with equalized active ingredient levels are needed to confirm formulation-specific effects. Full article

The aim of the study was to compare the production results, slaughter value, and physicochemical and biochemical parameters of the muscles of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The study included 225 individuals divided into three groups of 75 birds each. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of 25 birds each (replicates). The control group received zinc (Zn) in the form of zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper (Cu) in the form of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O). Experimental group I received the microelements zinc and copper exclusively in the form of zinc hydroxychloride and dicopper chloride trihydroxide. Experimental group II received zinc and copper in both inorganic and hydroxychloride forms. The obtained results were processed using statistical analysis using the STATISTICA 13.0 [2016] program. The significance of differences between groups was inferred based on Tukey’s test. Chickens from the experimental groups were characterized by higher body weight (p ≤ 0.05) and eviscerated carcass weight (p ≤ 0.05) and better feed utilization (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, compared with the control group, the carcasses of chickens from the experimental groups were characterized by a lower weight of breast muscles (p ≤ 0.05) and skin with subcutaneous fat, a similar weight of leg muscles, and a significantly greater weight of the remaining carcass components (p ≤ 0.01). The use of Zn and Cu in the form of hydroxychlorides in broiler chicken nutrition increased the fat content in the muscles (p ≤ 0.05), the concentrations of Zn and Cu in the liver, and significantly improved the tibial bone strength of broiler chickens. The application of Zn and Cu in the form of hydroxychlorides in the diets (experimental groups I and II) enhanced lipid and protein oxidation processes and the overall antioxidant capacity in the breast muscle. To conclude, dietary supplementation with zinc and copper hydroxychlorides in broilers promotes growth performance, bone strength, and mineral bioavailability, though it reduces breast muscle yield and triggers oxidative stress in these tissues. Full article

The global push to eliminate antibiotic growth promoters in poultry has accelerated the demand for effective natural alternatives. β-Glucans—branched polysaccharides derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls—enhance immunity and gut health; however, their mechanistic effect on the somatotropic axis and meat quality in broilers remains unresolved. Herein, the hypothesis that dietary β-glucan modulates somatotropic signaling to improve growth performance and breast muscle quality was tested with 240 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks allocated to three groups—untreated control, 250 mg β-glucan/kg feed, and 1 g β-glucan/kg feed—and reared for 35 d. Growth performance, plasma growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL), somatotropic axis gene expression in liver and breast muscle, and postmortem meat quality were assessed. β-Glucan supplementation significantly elevated final body weight, breast muscle weight, and plasma GH and PRL, and upregulated hepatic IGF-1 and muscle GH receptor mRNA at 35 d, and hepatic GH receptor mRNA at 17 d. Muscle pH was higher and relative drip loss lower in supplemented birds 72 h postmortem. These results support the hypothesis and identify 1 g β-glucan/kg feed as an effective dose for improving growth and meat quality through somatotropic axis modulation—a novel mechanistic demonstration in broiler chickens. Full article

The gut microbiome plays a central role in regulating nutrient utilization, immune function, and disease resistance, thereby directly influencing growth performance and feed efficiency. Existing microbiome modulation strategies, including probiotics, prebiotics, dietary interventions, and antibiotic alternatives, are critically evaluated. Despite their reported benefits, the effectiveness of these approaches often remains inconsistent across production systems. Evidence suggests that this variability is largely driven by complex interactions among microbial communities, host factors, and environmental and management conditions, which are frequently overlooked in conventional intervention-based approaches. To address this gap, this review proposes an integrated microbiome–host–environment framework that links microbial ecology with host physiology and production conditions. The framework provides a systems-level perspective for understanding the factors governing microbiome stability and production responses, offering a basis for more targeted and reliable microbiome management strategies. Finally, current challenges and future research priorities are discussed, including the integration of multi-omics technologies, precision nutrition, and data-driven approaches to support next-generation poultry production systems. By emphasizing the interconnected nature of microbiome regulation, this review contributes a conceptual foundation for improving broiler productivity and sustainability through more consistent and effective microbiome optimization. Full article

Onion peel extract (OPE) is rich in polyphenolic compounds with antimicrobial potential. Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) infection in young broiler chicks causes morbidity, reduced growth, and contributes to human gastroenteritis through contaminated poultry products. The spleen is a key secondary lymphoid organ coordinating systemic responses to pathogens in chicken. This study evaluated how dietary OPE influences spleen metabolic profiles during SE infection. Day-old Ross 708 male chicks (n = 128) were assigned to four treatments: CON, CON-SE, OPE (6 g/kg), and OPE-SE. Chicks in CON and OPE received sterile broth, whereas CON-SE and OPE-SE received 2.25 × 10⁸ CFU/mL SE at 2 d of age. At 5 and 12 dpi, spleens from six chicks per treatment were collected for untargeted HPLC-MS metabolomics. A total of 857 metabolites were identified and analyzed using MetaboAnalyst 6.0 (p < 0.05; fold change ≥ 2.0; VIP score > 1.0). In CON-SE chicks, energy generating metabolites (6-phosphogluconic acid, methylmalonic acid, propionic acid) increased, while 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin D2 and kynurenic acid decreased. Dietary OPE elevated several dipeptides (L-Val-Gly, L-Leu-Gly, Gly-Gly-Leu, L-Val-L-Met) and reduced ATP linked metabolites (3,6-di-O-methyl-beta-D-glucose and 3-O-beta-D-galactosyl-sn-glycerol). Enrichment analysis showed that SE infection altered valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, whereas OPE enriched galactose and biotin metabolism in uninfected chicks, but enriched tryptophan, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism in SE-infected chicks. Overall, dietary OPE optimized response of metabolic pathways associated with immune activation, unlike corresponding pathways in CON-SE birds. Full article

This experiment investigated the effects of two rearing systems, cage and free-range, on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, slaughter performance, cecal microbiota, and hepatic metabolism of yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 240 healthy 21-day-old Liangfenghua yellow-feathered male broilers with similar body weight were randomly assigned to a cage group (LY) and a free-range group (SY), with 10 replicates per group and 12 birds per replicate. All birds were fed the same diet until 63 days of age. Compared with the LY group, the SY group had significantly lower final body weight, average daily gain, and abdominal fat percentage (p < 0.05), while average daily feed intake and feed-to-gain-ratio were significantly higher (p < 0.05). The Shannon and Simpson indices of the cecal microbiota were significantly higher in the SY group (p < 0.05), and the genera Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Rikenella, and Oscillibacter were specifically enriched. A total of 560 differential metabolites were identified by liver non-targeted metabolomics, and these metabolites were significantly enriched in the necroptosis, cysteine and methionine metabolism, thiamine metabolism, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism pathways (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis between cecal microbiota and liver metabolites revealed that the differentially abundant bacterial genera showed significant negative correlations with multiple amino acid metabolites in the liver. In conclusion, the free-range rearing system reduced the growth performance of yellow-feathered broilers but enriched specific bacterial genera, increased gut microbiota diversity, and modulated host amino acid metabolism and energy homeostasis through the “gut microbiota–liver” axis, ultimately inducing an adaptive metabolic state characterized by reduced abdominal fat deposition and remodeling of hepatic metabolic pathways. Full article

The impact of dietary inert digestibility markers on gut microbiota and intestinal fermentation remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of dietary titanium dioxide (TiO₂) supplementation at 4 kg/t feed, representing a typical dose used in animal nutrition studies, on fermentation dynamics and microbial composition in broiler chickens using combined ex vivo and in vivo approaches. Ex vivo fermentations were conducted using ileal and caecal microbiota and substrates collected from 32-day-old broiler chickens. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was supplemented directly to the fermentations, and gas production and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles were used as the main outcome measures. In parallel, 392 broiler chickens were fed diets with or without TiO₂ for 32 days, and ileal and caecal digesta were analysed for fermentation end-products and microbial composition using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. A second ex vivo experiment was performed using microbiota adapted to dietary TiO₂. In the first ex vivo model, TiO₂ reduced gas production and acetic acid concentration in the ileum (p < 0.05), whereas in the caecum it increased gas production, total eubacterial counts, and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) (p < 0.05). In vivo, TiO₂ did not affect growth performance or organ development but significantly increased isobutyric acid and total BCFA concentrations in the caecum (p < 0.05). Metagenomic analysis revealed increased caecal alpha diversity (Shannon index) and enrichment of taxa associated with amino acid metabolism, including Massilicoli timonensis, Blautia merdavium, Rubneribacter badeniensis, and Mediterraneibacter caccavium. The second ex vivo experiment showed similar trends, with increased gas and BCFA production. Collectively, these findings indicate that TiO₂ can modulate intestinal fermentation and microbial composition in a segment-specific manner, suggesting that dietary markers may not be biologically inert. Full article

The objective of this research was to evaluate different commercial eubiotics. The eubiotics were evaluated individually and in combination on growth performance, carcass traits, and gut structure in broilers fed sorghum–soybean meal diets. A total of 1000 Ross 308 male broilers were randomly allocated to one of five dietary treatments with eight replicates of 25 broilers each. The experimental treatments were: 1. CON (basal diet), 2. ENR (basal diet + Enradin^® 100 g/ton), 3. PF (basal diet + Probion-forte© 300 g/ton), 4. PF+ EB (basal diet + Probion-forte© and EndoBan FT^® 250 and 250 g/ton, respectively), 5. CPP (basal diet + CRINA^® Poultry Plus 300 g/ton). Broilers fed with eubiotic-supplemented diets showed significantly ameliorated growth performance compared with the control group (CON p < 0.05). Carcass weight was also significantly higher in broilers fed with eubiotics than those fed CON (the basal diet, p < 0.05). Gut structure analysis showed an increased villus height and mucosal thickness in the duodenum of eubiotic-treated groups (p < 0.05). The mixed supplementation of Probion-forte© and EndoBan^®(PF-EB) induced greater villus height and mucosal thickness in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05). Additionally, supplementation with PPR (CRINA^® Poultry Plus) increased crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.05), whereas PF (Probion-forte©) improved the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in the duodenum and ileum (p < 0.05). Consequently, dietary supplementation with these commercial eubiotics, individually and in combination, could ameliorate productive performance, carcass yield, skin pigmentation, and gut structure in broilers. Full article

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and methionine are two biologically active compounds related to cell energy metabolism. Both are metabolically linked, as the methyl group needed to transform GAA into creatine derives from S-adenonsylmethionine out of the homocysteine cycle. A broiler feeding study was conducted to evaluate potential interactions between 600 g/t supplemental GAA and feed additives with methionine activity. The experimental design comprised two parts. Part one consisted of three dietary treatments in which DL-methionine (DL-Met) was added to meet sulfur amino acid recommendations (1), DL-Met was replaced with liquid methionine hydroxy analogue-free acid (MHA-FA) assuming an 80% methionine activity in the product (2), and DL-Met was added at 65% of the MHA-FA dose used in Treatment 2 (on a product weight basis). Treatments 1, 2, and 3 reflect the range of commercial practice with assuming bioefficacies of either 80% (Trt 2 vs. 1) or 65% (Trt 3 vs. 2) for MHA-FA relative to DL-Met. Part two followed a 2 × 4 factorial design. Either DL-Met or MHA-FA (assuming 80% methionine activity) was added to diets with gradually reduced apparent metabolizable energy (AME; standard, −25, −50, −75 kcal/kg AME). For MHA-FA, a bioefficacy of 80% relative to DL-Met was applied in order to evaluate interactions with GAA efficiency assuming inadequate dietary Met+Cys supply with MHA-FA. AME-reduced diets were supplemented with 600 g/t GAA to evaluate its energy-sparing potential. A total of 2784 male Cobb 500 broilers were equally assigned to 116 floor pens, resulting in 13 replicates (one treatment with 12) per treatment. A five-phase feeding program was introduced from 1 to 40 days of age. Body weights (BW) and feed intake (FI) were recorded in weekly intervals allowing for calculating weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). At termination of the experiment, three birds per pen were obtained for carcass analysis. The results revealed that an overestimation of the bioefficacy of MHA-FA relative to DL-Met significantly compromised broiler growth (p < 0.05), while applying a bioefficacy of 65% for MHA-FA relative to DL-Met65 resulted in similar performance. However, on day 40, BW of broilers fed DL-Met65 were higher than with MHA-FA (p < 0.05). It is concluded that an overestimation of the bioefficacy of MHA-FA relative to DL-Met bears the risk of compromised broiler performance while a bioefficacy of 65% allows at least similar, potentially even better, performance and economic advantages. There were basically no interactions between MHA-FA or DL-Met and graded ME levels with concomitant GAA supplementation regarding overall performance of broilers. This means that final BW of DL-Met-fed broilers were higher than those of MHA-FA broilers independent of dietary ME (p < 0.05). In early feeding phases, interactions indicated that broiler performance (BW day 7, 21, p < 0.05) diminished with dietary energy reduction with DL-Met supplementation while this was not the case with MHA-FA-fed broilers. However, with standard AME, DL-Met outperformed MHA-FA (p < 0.05). Basically, GAA supplementation compensated AME reduction up to 50 kcal/kg as there were no differences in BW, BWG, FCR, FI, or breast meat yield. Additionally, −75 kcal/kg AME was compensated by GAA only up to a broiler age of 21 days. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, antioxidant capacity, serum profiles, and intestinal morphology in Minxinan black rabbits. A total of 250 rabbits were allocated to five dietary treatments containing 0, 30, 60, 120, or 240 mg/kg CoQ10 for 14 weeks after a 1-week adaptation period. Results indicated that supplementation with 60 mg/kg CoQ10 resulted in the highest final body weight (2.83 kg) and average daily gain (29.54 g/day), with a significantly reduced feed-to-gain ratio and mortality rate compared to the control group. Regarding slaughter performance, the 60 mg/kg group significantly reduced the abdominal fat rate. In terms of meat quality, the 60 and 120 mg/kg groups showed significantly reduced drip loss and shear force, while meat lightness (L*) increased in all supplemented groups. Cooking loss was significantly reduced in the 60 mg/kg group. Antioxidant capacity in cardiac muscle and longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle was enhanced, particularly at 60 mg/kg, with significantly elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), alongside reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, the 60 mg/kg group increased LTL muscle polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, elevated serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3), growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), enhanced immunoglobulin concentrations, and improved intestinal morphology. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 60 mg/kg CoQ10 improved growth performance, carcass leanness, PUFA content, and antioxidant status in broiler rabbits. Full article

This study tested the hypothesis that dietary L. acidophilus would improve nutrient utilization in yellow-feathered broilers mainly through intestinal changes rather than a consistent increase in growth performance. A total of 195 one-day-old broilers were assigned to a control group (basal diet), a T1 group (basal diet with 10 g/kg L. acidophilus), or a T2 group (basal diet with 15 g/kg L. acidophilus), with five replicates of 13 birds per treatment over 63 days. The biological responses followed a clear pattern. First, supplementation did not significantly affect average daily feed intake, average daily gain, or feed-to-gain ratio at any growth stage or across the entire trial (days 1–63; p > 0.05), indicating limited direct effects on growth. Second, the main nutritional response occurred during days 22–42, when T1 increased the apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, crude protein, and gross energy compared to the control (p < 0.05). Third, intestinal responses aligned with localized gut modulation: both supplemented groups had higher culture-based Lactobacillus counts and lower E. coli counts in the cecum and ileum (p < 0.05), and T1 increased duodenal villus height (p < 0.05). In contrast, serum biochemical, immune, and antioxidant indices showed only isolated, phase-dependent changes and were not considered the primary response. Overall, moderate dietary supplementation with L. acidophilus enhanced nutrient utilization during mid-growth and was linked to targeted intestinal bacterial and morphological changes, but it did not consistently improve growth performance in yellow-feathered broilers. Full article

Broiler production has frequently faced economic losses due to infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms. These problems are commonly resolved using antibiotics, but doing so could lead to antibiotic resistance and impair food safety. This study evaluated the effects of a tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) shell powder (TSP) supplementation on the growth performance and overall health status in broiler chickens. A total of 375 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to five dietary treatment groups in a completely randomized design. Broilers received either a basal diet; antibiotic-supplemented diet; or diet supplemented with TSP at 1 × MIC, 16 × MIC, or 32 × MIC daily for 42 days. The results showed that treatment 4 (TSP 16 × MIC—64 mg per bird) had the best growth performance in broilers. Intestinal permeability measurements assessed using 4 kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran (FITC–dextran) showed that broilers fed the treatment 5 (TSP 32 × MIC—128 mg per bird) diet had significantly lower FITC–dextran concentrations in all intestinal segments (p < 0.05) and were determined to have higher serum FITC–dextran than the control group. The hematological parameters can significantly reduce serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Finally, the application of tamarind shell powder promoted probiotic proliferation within the broilers’ gastrointestinal tract and mitigated Enterobacteriaceae infections, demonstrating comparable efficacy to the antibiotic-treated control group. This research suggests that tamarind shell powder supplementation, especially at a medium dosage (treatment 4), may beneficially influence gut morphology, modulate the gut microbiota, and enhance intestinal health in broiler chickens. Full article

This study compared a self-induced anaerobic fermented product (SIAFP), prepared with Bacillus subtilis M6 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum R101, with dry-form (DTFP) and wet-form (WTFP) two-stage fermented products in broilers. Three trials were conducted: Trial 1 evaluated the physicochemical properties and growth performance; Trial 2 assessed nutrient composition and apparent total tract digestibility; and Trial 3 determined the optimal dietary inclusion level of SIAFP. In Trial 1, SIAFP exhibited the lowest pH and the highest Lactiplantibacillus-like counts (p < 0.05), and all fermented product groups showed higher body weight gain and performance efficiency factor compared to the unfermented control (p < 0.05). In Trial 2, SIAFP contained higher crude protein and total amino acid contents, concomitant with improved hemicellulose digestibility (p < 0.05). In Trial 3, incremental dietary inclusion of SIAFP (0–3.75%) exerted linear or quadratic effects on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05), with optimal performance observed within the range of 1.25–2.5%. In conclusion, SIAFP showed comparable growth-promoting effects to DTFP and WTFP, suggesting its potential as a practical alternative fermented feed product. Dietary inclusion at 1.25–2.5% effectively enhanced growth performance, which may be attributed to improved nutrient composition and digestibility in broilers. Full article

A novel Bacillus velezensis strain DY201, isolated from broiler feces, was characterized to assess its probiotic potential as an antibiotic alternative in poultry production. The strain demonstrated robust environmental tolerance with optimal growth at 42 °C and 51.32% survival following sequential exposure to simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. DY201 exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella pullorum, and Clostridium perfringens, with activity remaining stable across pH 5.0–8.0 and retaining over 92.65% efficacy after 85 °C treatment. Scanning electron microscopy revealed metabolite-induced membrane perforation in target pathogens. Although whole-genome sequencing identified 14 biosynthetic gene clusters for lipopeptides including surfactin and fengycin, integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses detected small-molecule metabolites—Withaferin A, 2′-hydroxy-2-methoxychalcone, and platycodigenin—as the primary antimicrobial effectors. In a preliminary broiler trial, dietary DY201 supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacillus in the ileum from 0.30% to 10.30% (p = 0.0434) and in the jejunum from 0.77% to 5.56% (p = 0.0453), enriched the generally beneficial genus Lactobacillus in the jejunum from 73.05% to 80.11% (p = 0.0323), and reduced Candidatus Arthromitus in the ileum from 13.38% to 0.59% (p = 0.0105). These findings support B. velezensis DY201 as a promising probiotic candidate for intestinal microbiota modulation in broilers, although functional intestinal health benefits require further validation through growth performance, barrier function, immune response, and pathogen challenge studies. Full article

Enterococcus cecorum has been identified as causing early sepsis in commercial broilers. We hypothesized that vertical transmission may contribute to the spread of the pathogen. Sampling of 360 commercial broiler eggs from a previously infected flock detected Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus faecalis in yolks of 18-day incubated eggs. Enterococcus avium was recovered by enrichment from 1 of 31 unincubated yolks. Direct sampling without enrichment of 297 egg yolks from a previously infected broiler breeder flock detected E. faecalis, Escherichia coli, Globicatella sanguinis, and E. gallinarum, often in high numbers, or in coinfections. Microbiological sampling of day-of-hatch chicks suggested only the yolk sac was likely to yield bacterial growth, and that yolks could be sampled directly using swabs streaked onto growth medium. The most common isolate from sampling 30 day-of-hatch broiler chicks was E. faecalis from 16 different chicks. Further, E. coli was recovered as a mixed infection with E. faecalis in 3 of those 16 residual yolk sacs. From swab-sampling of residual yolk sacs from 40 day-of-hatch broiler breeder chicks, E. faecalis was recovered from 7 chicks. Thus, yolk infections by Enterococcus species were the primary isolates cultured from commercial broilers and broiler breeders in Arkansas. Identification of these species at high numbers in yolks is likely contributing to reduced hatchability, early chick death, and transmission of bacteria to subsequent flocks. Therefore, the broiler industry needs to pursue methods to identify infected laying hens and management strategies to mitigate vertical transmission. Importance: We were unable to identify E. cecorum being spread from flock to flock via vertical transmission. We did identify specific bacterial species infecting and reproducing within the yolks of developing embryos and day-old chicks of commercial, meat-type chickens. These particular species were detected at low and high levels, indicating growth within the yolk. The implication is that these species colonized the yolk within the hen’s reproductive tract and were vertically transmitted to the chicks and subsequent flocks. Some infections represent only a single species, while others involve two species that may represent cooperative infections. With the removal of the use of antibiotic growth promoters during early development, these species may be reducing chicken reproduction through embryo death or early chick mortality. Full article