Allium-Based Phytobiotic Enhances Egg Production in Laying Hens through Microbial Composition Changes in Ileum and Cecum

Animals

MaríaJesús Zurita-González¹  JuanJosé Ariza-Romero¹  Alberto Baños¹  Mercedes Maqueda²  Miguel Rabelo-Ruiz²  Eva Valdivia²  JuanManuel Peralta-Sánchez²  AntonioManuel Martín-Platero²  Manuel Martínez-Bueno² 

[1] Departamento de Microbiología y Biotecnología, DMC Research Center, Camino de Jayena s/n, 18620 Granada, Spain;Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain;

关键词: Allium-based phytobiotic;    Alliaceae extract;    laying hens;    gut microbiota;    egg production;    high-throughput sequencing;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani11020448

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Phytobiotics (bioactive compounds extracted from plants) are one of the explored alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and livestock due to their antimicrobial activity and its positive effects on gut microbiota and productive properties. In this study, we supplemented a product based on garlic and onion compounds in the diet to laying hens at the beginning of their productive life (from 16 to 20 weeks post-hatching). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the number of eggs laid and in their size, produced in one month compared to the control. This increase in production was accompanied by microbiota changes in the ileum and cecum by means of high throughput sequencing analyses. These bacterial shifts in the ileum were mainly the result of compositional changes in the rare biosphere (unweighted UniFrac), while in the cecum, treatment affected both majority and minority bacterial groups (weighted and unweighted UniFrac). These changes in the microbiota suggest an improvement in food digestibility. The relative abundance of Lactococcus in the ileum and Lactobacillus in the cecum increased significantly in the experimental group. The relative abundance of these bacterial genera are known to have positive effects on the hosts. These results are very promising for the use of these compounds in poultry for short periods.

【 授权许可】

Unknown