Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens
Recently, the Netherlands has shifted toward more welfare-friendly broiler production systems using slower-growing broiler breeds. Early post-hatch feeding (EF) is a dietary strategy that is currently used in commercial broiler production to modulate the gut microbiota and improve performance and we...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1492274/full |
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| author | Francesca Marcato Dirkjan Schokker Soumya Kanti Kar Alex Bossers Alex Bossers Frank Harders Johanna M. J. Rebel Christine A. Jansen Elianne van der Valk Leo Kruijt Dennis Elbert te Beest Ingrid C. de Jong |
| author_facet | Francesca Marcato Dirkjan Schokker Soumya Kanti Kar Alex Bossers Alex Bossers Frank Harders Johanna M. J. Rebel Christine A. Jansen Elianne van der Valk Leo Kruijt Dennis Elbert te Beest Ingrid C. de Jong |
| author_sort | Francesca Marcato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recently, the Netherlands has shifted toward more welfare-friendly broiler production systems using slower-growing broiler breeds. Early post-hatch feeding (EF) is a dietary strategy that is currently used in commercial broiler production to modulate the gut microbiota and improve performance and welfare. However, there is a knowledge gap in how both breed and EF and their interplay affect gut microbiota composition and diversity, inflammatory status, and broiler behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of breed (fast vs. slower-growing), EF, and their interaction on jejunum microbiota, inflammation, and behavior of broiler chickens. The study included a total of 416 Ross 308 and 416 Hubbard JA757 day-old male broiler chickens, observed until they were 37 days and 51 days old, respectively. Within each breed, one-half of the chickens received EF and the other half did not. A total of two chickens per pen were euthanized at two time points, that is, target body weight (BW) of 200 g and 2.5 kg, and jejunum samples were collected. The jejunum content samples (N = 96) were analyzed for their microbiota, whereas the jejunum tissue (N = 96) was used for the detection of mRNA levels of cytokines (IL-17, IL-22, and IFNγ). Two behavioral tests were performed to assess fear responses: (1) a novel environment test at a target BW of 200 g and (2) a tonic immobility test at a target BW of 2.5 kg. Breed affected the microbiota at a target BW of 2.5 kg (p = 0.04). A breed × EF interaction (p = 0.02) was present for IFNγ at a target BW of 200 g. During the novel environment test, Ross 308 chickens exhibited a shorter latency to vocalize and a higher number of vocalizations compared to Hubbard JA757 chickens (p < 0.05). Early-fed broiler chickens vocalized less compared to not early-fed chickens (Δ = −27.8 on average; p < 0.01). During the tonic immobility test, Hubbard JA757 chickens exhibited a shorter latency to stand compared to Ross 308 chickens. In conclusion, using a slower-growing breed has beneficial effects on gut microbiota and fear responses of broilers, especially at slaughter age, whereas EF seems to have an impact only at an early stage of the life of broilers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-98d7c503cfc24b3d8731d4aefb991ead |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-98d7c503cfc24b3d8731d4aefb991ead2025-08-20T02:18:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692024-12-011110.3389/fvets.2024.14922741492274Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickensFrancesca Marcato0Dirkjan Schokker1Soumya Kanti Kar2Alex Bossers3Alex Bossers4Frank Harders5Johanna M. J. Rebel6Christine A. Jansen7Elianne van der Valk8Leo Kruijt9Dennis Elbert te Beest10Ingrid C. de Jong11Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, NetherlandsWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, NetherlandsInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NetherlandsWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, NetherlandsWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, NetherlandsCell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsBiometris, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsRecently, the Netherlands has shifted toward more welfare-friendly broiler production systems using slower-growing broiler breeds. Early post-hatch feeding (EF) is a dietary strategy that is currently used in commercial broiler production to modulate the gut microbiota and improve performance and welfare. However, there is a knowledge gap in how both breed and EF and their interplay affect gut microbiota composition and diversity, inflammatory status, and broiler behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of breed (fast vs. slower-growing), EF, and their interaction on jejunum microbiota, inflammation, and behavior of broiler chickens. The study included a total of 416 Ross 308 and 416 Hubbard JA757 day-old male broiler chickens, observed until they were 37 days and 51 days old, respectively. Within each breed, one-half of the chickens received EF and the other half did not. A total of two chickens per pen were euthanized at two time points, that is, target body weight (BW) of 200 g and 2.5 kg, and jejunum samples were collected. The jejunum content samples (N = 96) were analyzed for their microbiota, whereas the jejunum tissue (N = 96) was used for the detection of mRNA levels of cytokines (IL-17, IL-22, and IFNγ). Two behavioral tests were performed to assess fear responses: (1) a novel environment test at a target BW of 200 g and (2) a tonic immobility test at a target BW of 2.5 kg. Breed affected the microbiota at a target BW of 2.5 kg (p = 0.04). A breed × EF interaction (p = 0.02) was present for IFNγ at a target BW of 200 g. During the novel environment test, Ross 308 chickens exhibited a shorter latency to vocalize and a higher number of vocalizations compared to Hubbard JA757 chickens (p < 0.05). Early-fed broiler chickens vocalized less compared to not early-fed chickens (Δ = −27.8 on average; p < 0.01). During the tonic immobility test, Hubbard JA757 chickens exhibited a shorter latency to stand compared to Ross 308 chickens. In conclusion, using a slower-growing breed has beneficial effects on gut microbiota and fear responses of broilers, especially at slaughter age, whereas EF seems to have an impact only at an early stage of the life of broilers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1492274/fullbroilersbreedearly feedinggut microbiomeimmunitybehavior |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Marcato Dirkjan Schokker Soumya Kanti Kar Alex Bossers Alex Bossers Frank Harders Johanna M. J. Rebel Christine A. Jansen Elianne van der Valk Leo Kruijt Dennis Elbert te Beest Ingrid C. de Jong Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens Frontiers in Veterinary Science broilers breed early feeding gut microbiome immunity behavior |
| title | Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens |
| title_full | Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens |
| title_fullStr | Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens |
| title_short | Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens |
| title_sort | effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota inflammation markers and behavior of broiler chickens |
| topic | broilers breed early feeding gut microbiome immunity behavior |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1492274/full |
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