Effects of high stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickens
IntroductionThe intestinal dysfunction plays an important role in the decreased growth performance of broiler chickens under high stocking density. Gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health. However, the modulation pathway of gut microbiota by regulating the intestinal...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| author | Yuanyang Dong Yuqi Zheng Haoyu Liu Yaru Wang Jiaqing Cui Yuan Wu Lei Yan Zhiqiang Miao Miaomiao Han Chenxuan Huang Peifeng Li Yuan Su Yiru Shen Junzhen Zhang Jianmin Yuan Bingkun Zhang Jianhui Li |
| author_facet | Yuanyang Dong Yuqi Zheng Haoyu Liu Yaru Wang Jiaqing Cui Yuan Wu Lei Yan Zhiqiang Miao Miaomiao Han Chenxuan Huang Peifeng Li Yuan Su Yiru Shen Junzhen Zhang Jianmin Yuan Bingkun Zhang Jianhui Li |
| author_sort | Yuanyang Dong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe intestinal dysfunction plays an important role in the decreased growth performance of broiler chickens under high stocking density. Gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health. However, the modulation pathway of gut microbiota by regulating the intestinal barrier and histomorphology remains unknown.MethodsOne hundred and forty-four male Arbor Acres broilers (22-d-old) with similar weight were randomly assigned to two treatments: a high (HSD, 20 broilers/m2) or low stocking density treatment (LSD, 14 broilers/m2), with six replicates per treatment. The experimental period was 20 days, from 22 to 42 days of age.ResultsThe final body weight at 42 days of age was lower in the HSD group (P = 0.0013) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.016) and weight gain of broilers from 22 to 42 days decreased (P = 0.012). In the HSD group on day 42, villus height and the ratio of villus height to the crypt depth in the ileum decreased (P < 0.05); mRNA expression of tight junction proteins, occludin (P < 0.01) and ZO1 (P < 0.05), were downregulated; whereas IL-6, TNFα, and NFκB p65 (P < 0.05) and IL-1β (P < 0.01) were upregulated. The HSD treatment increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus (P = 0.045) and decreased that of Alistipes (P = 0.031). Cecal concentrations of acetic (P < 0.05) and butyric acids (P < 0.05) decreased. Gut metabolites co-metabolized by the host and gut microbiota were altered in the HSD group, with decreases in glycerophospholipid and tryptophan metabolites negatively correlated with Lactobacillus (P < 0.05). The metabolite content of conjugated bile acids decreased and free bile acids increased (P < 0.05) with HSD. Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) was increased in the intestine of HSD-treated broilers (P < 0.01). The total cholic acid content of the HSD group was lower in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05) but higher in the cecum than in the LSD group (P < 0.01).ConclusionHSD caused dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota such as increased Lactobacillus, along with enhanced BSH activity and excessive unabsorbed free bile acids. This resulted in ileal epithelial cells damage, inflammation, decreased growth performance of broilers under high stocking densities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-598f5da43c004e629223a7d7f0c72c8b |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-598f5da43c004e629223a7d7f0c72c8b2025-08-20T02:03:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-02-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15420591542059Effects of high stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickensYuanyang Dong0Yuqi Zheng1Haoyu Liu2Yaru Wang3Jiaqing Cui4Yuan Wu5Lei Yan6Zhiqiang Miao7Miaomiao Han8Chenxuan Huang9Peifeng Li10Yuan Su11Yiru Shen12Junzhen Zhang13Jianmin Yuan14Bingkun Zhang15Jianhui Li16Shanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShandong New Hope Liuhe Group Co., Ltd., Qingdao, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaChinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Poultry Institute, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaChina Agricultural University College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing, ChinaChina Agricultural University College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing, ChinaShanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, ChinaIntroductionThe intestinal dysfunction plays an important role in the decreased growth performance of broiler chickens under high stocking density. Gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health. However, the modulation pathway of gut microbiota by regulating the intestinal barrier and histomorphology remains unknown.MethodsOne hundred and forty-four male Arbor Acres broilers (22-d-old) with similar weight were randomly assigned to two treatments: a high (HSD, 20 broilers/m2) or low stocking density treatment (LSD, 14 broilers/m2), with six replicates per treatment. The experimental period was 20 days, from 22 to 42 days of age.ResultsThe final body weight at 42 days of age was lower in the HSD group (P = 0.0013) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.016) and weight gain of broilers from 22 to 42 days decreased (P = 0.012). In the HSD group on day 42, villus height and the ratio of villus height to the crypt depth in the ileum decreased (P < 0.05); mRNA expression of tight junction proteins, occludin (P < 0.01) and ZO1 (P < 0.05), were downregulated; whereas IL-6, TNFα, and NFκB p65 (P < 0.05) and IL-1β (P < 0.01) were upregulated. The HSD treatment increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus (P = 0.045) and decreased that of Alistipes (P = 0.031). Cecal concentrations of acetic (P < 0.05) and butyric acids (P < 0.05) decreased. Gut metabolites co-metabolized by the host and gut microbiota were altered in the HSD group, with decreases in glycerophospholipid and tryptophan metabolites negatively correlated with Lactobacillus (P < 0.05). The metabolite content of conjugated bile acids decreased and free bile acids increased (P < 0.05) with HSD. Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) was increased in the intestine of HSD-treated broilers (P < 0.01). The total cholic acid content of the HSD group was lower in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05) but higher in the cecum than in the LSD group (P < 0.01).ConclusionHSD caused dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota such as increased Lactobacillus, along with enhanced BSH activity and excessive unabsorbed free bile acids. This resulted in ileal epithelial cells damage, inflammation, decreased growth performance of broilers under high stocking densities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1542059/fullhigh stocking densitybroilerintestinal barrierintestinal microbiotabile salt hydrolase |
| spellingShingle | Yuanyang Dong Yuqi Zheng Haoyu Liu Yaru Wang Jiaqing Cui Yuan Wu Lei Yan Zhiqiang Miao Miaomiao Han Chenxuan Huang Peifeng Li Yuan Su Yiru Shen Junzhen Zhang Jianmin Yuan Bingkun Zhang Jianhui Li Effects of high stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickens Frontiers in Microbiology high stocking density broiler intestinal barrier intestinal microbiota bile salt hydrolase |
| title | Effects of high stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickens |
| title_full | Effects of high stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickens |
| title_fullStr | Effects of high stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of high stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickens |
| title_short | Effects of high stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickens |
| title_sort | effects of high stocking density on the growth performance intestinal health and bile salts composition of broiler chickens |
| topic | high stocking density broiler intestinal barrier intestinal microbiota bile salt hydrolase |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1542059/full |
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