Relationships Between Broiler Feed and Feed Efficiency and Their Gut Microbiomes.

Authors: Rothrock, Michael

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2019
Publication Date: 9/17/2019
Citation: Rothrock Jr, M.J. 2019. Relationships Between Broiler Feed and Feed Efficiency and Their Gut Microbiomes. Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract. 2A.

Interpretive Summary: With shifting consumer demands and the absence of antibiotic growth promoters in broiler management, the broiler industry needs to develop new strategies to maintain broiler production efficiency. To better develop these strategies, a basic understanding of the broiler gut microbiome effects on broiler feed efficiency is needed as are the effects of alternative feed formulations on the broiler gut health. The ultimate goal of this basic research is to leverage this knowledge to make production strategies more efficacious. Recent work in our lab has demonstrated that broiler feed and management and gut microbiome are linked, and two such examples will be highlighted. First, looked at how the market trend of having soy-free diets in alternatively managed (e.g. pasture-raised) broilers effects broiler gut microbiomes throughout live production through to the final product. This research has shown that removing soy protein from diets can have significant effects on broiler gut microbiomes throughout live production, and potentially improve food safety of the final product by lowering Campylobacter levels on the final product whole carcass rinses. Secondly, we looked at correlations between commercial broiler feeding efficiency and the gut microbiomes of the four main gastrointestinal tract segments (jejunum, ileum, duodenum, cecum). When comparing the highest and lowest efficiency broilers (based on food conversion rates), microbiome analysis showed that while gastrointestinal segment was the greatest driver of richness, diversity, and community structure within these samples, there were significant differences in taxa within each segment between high and low feed efficiency broilers, including those within the dominant Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes phyla. These data suggest that microbial signatures are associated with feed composition and feed efficiency differences can be linked, and these microbial signatures need to be studied further, as they represent potential targets for future strategies to maintain or even improve current production efficiencies within the poultry industry.

Technical Abstract: With shifting consumer demands and the absence of antibiotic growth promoters in broiler management, the broiler industry needs to develop new strategies to maintain broiler production efficiency. To better develop these strategies, a basic understanding of the broiler gut microbiome effects on broiler feed efficiency is needed as are the effects of alternative feed formulations on the broiler gut health. The ultimate goal of this basic research is to leverage this knowledge to make production strategies more efficacious. Recent work in our lab has demonstrated that broiler feed and management and gut microbiome are linked, and two such examples will be highlighted. First, looked at how the market trend of having soy-free diets in alternatively managed (e.g. pasture-raised) broilers effects broiler gut microbiomes throughout live production through to the final product. This research has shown that removing soy protein from diets can have significant effects on broiler gut microbiomes throughout live production, and potentially improve food safety of the final product by lowering Campylobacter levels on the final product whole carcass rinses. Secondly, we looked at correlations between commercial broiler feeding efficiency and the gut microbiomes of the four main gastrointestinal tract segments (jejunum, ileum, duodenum, cecum). When comparing the highest and lowest efficiency broilers (based on food conversion rates), microbiome analysis showed that while gastrointestinal segment was the greatest driver of richness, diversity, and community structure within these samples, there were significant differences in taxa within each segment between high and low feed efficiency broilers, including those within the dominant Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes phyla. These data suggest that microbial signatures are associated with feed composition and feed efficiency differences can be linked, and these microbial signatures need to be studied further, as they represent potential targets for future strategies to maintain or even improve current production efficiencies within the poultry industry.