Comparison of the Effects of Feeding Compound Probiotics and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Small Intestine Morphology in Yellow-Feather Broilers
This study was devoted to the comparison of the probiotic effect of compound probiotics to antibiotics as a feed additive for chicken. Two hundred and seventy newly hatched yellow-feather broilers were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (Con), probiotics (Pb), and antibiotics grou...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/9/2308 |
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| author | Yuyan Feng Xiaoting Wu Dan Hu Canyang Wang Qu Chen Yingdong Ni |
| author_facet | Yuyan Feng Xiaoting Wu Dan Hu Canyang Wang Qu Chen Yingdong Ni |
| author_sort | Yuyan Feng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study was devoted to the comparison of the probiotic effect of compound probiotics to antibiotics as a feed additive for chicken. Two hundred and seventy newly hatched yellow-feather broilers were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (Con), probiotics (Pb), and antibiotics group (Ab). The Pb group received compound probiotics (<i>Bifidobacterium</i>, <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i>, <i>Streptococcus faecalis</i>, and yeast) via drinking water for 24 days. The Ab group received antibiotics (zinc bacitracin and colistin sulfate) in their diet for 24 days. All broilers were slaughtered on day 42. Compared with the Con group, the body weight was significantly increased on days 13, 28, and 42 in the Pb group (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and markedly increased on day 28 in the Ab group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared with the Ab group, the body weight of the broilers in the Pb group increased significantly on day 13 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared to the Con and Pb groups, the antibiotics treatment reduced the feed intake (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the feed conversion ratio between the Ab and Pb groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The feed conversion ratio of the broilers treated with antibiotics or probiotics significantly decreased compared to the Con group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The depth of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum crypts in the Pb group decreased significantly compared to the Con and Ab group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The ratio of the villi length to crypt depth of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum epithelium was significantly increased in the Pb group compared to the Con group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The genera <i>Bacteroides</i> and <i>Barnesiella</i> were the most significantly enriched bacteria in the Ab and Pb groups, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The expression of the genes related to antibiotic resistance was significantly decreased in the Pb group compared to the Ab group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Although both compound probiotics and antibiotics can improve growth performance, antibiotics increased the abundance of harmful bacteria and drug-resistant genes, while probiotics increased <i>Barnesiella</i> abundance, which is related to a decrease in the drug-resistant gene expression. Moreover, the probiotics treatment improved small intestinal morphology and fecal emissions, while antibiotics have no significant effect on these indicators, indicating a bright future for probiotics as an alternative to feed antibiotics in the yellow-feather broiler industry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:26:05Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-64dff02335db42408eadc5c8e43c70fa2023-11-19T12:03:32ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-09-01119230810.3390/microorganisms11092308Comparison of the Effects of Feeding Compound Probiotics and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Small Intestine Morphology in Yellow-Feather BroilersYuyan Feng0Xiaoting Wu1Dan Hu2Canyang Wang3Qu Chen4Yingdong Ni5Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaThis study was devoted to the comparison of the probiotic effect of compound probiotics to antibiotics as a feed additive for chicken. Two hundred and seventy newly hatched yellow-feather broilers were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (Con), probiotics (Pb), and antibiotics group (Ab). The Pb group received compound probiotics (<i>Bifidobacterium</i>, <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i>, <i>Streptococcus faecalis</i>, and yeast) via drinking water for 24 days. The Ab group received antibiotics (zinc bacitracin and colistin sulfate) in their diet for 24 days. All broilers were slaughtered on day 42. Compared with the Con group, the body weight was significantly increased on days 13, 28, and 42 in the Pb group (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and markedly increased on day 28 in the Ab group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared with the Ab group, the body weight of the broilers in the Pb group increased significantly on day 13 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared to the Con and Pb groups, the antibiotics treatment reduced the feed intake (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the feed conversion ratio between the Ab and Pb groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The feed conversion ratio of the broilers treated with antibiotics or probiotics significantly decreased compared to the Con group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The depth of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum crypts in the Pb group decreased significantly compared to the Con and Ab group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The ratio of the villi length to crypt depth of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum epithelium was significantly increased in the Pb group compared to the Con group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The genera <i>Bacteroides</i> and <i>Barnesiella</i> were the most significantly enriched bacteria in the Ab and Pb groups, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The expression of the genes related to antibiotic resistance was significantly decreased in the Pb group compared to the Ab group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Although both compound probiotics and antibiotics can improve growth performance, antibiotics increased the abundance of harmful bacteria and drug-resistant genes, while probiotics increased <i>Barnesiella</i> abundance, which is related to a decrease in the drug-resistant gene expression. Moreover, the probiotics treatment improved small intestinal morphology and fecal emissions, while antibiotics have no significant effect on these indicators, indicating a bright future for probiotics as an alternative to feed antibiotics in the yellow-feather broiler industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/9/2308probioticsantibioticsgut microbiotayellow-feather broilers |
| spellingShingle | Yuyan Feng Xiaoting Wu Dan Hu Canyang Wang Qu Chen Yingdong Ni Comparison of the Effects of Feeding Compound Probiotics and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Small Intestine Morphology in Yellow-Feather Broilers Microorganisms probiotics antibiotics gut microbiota yellow-feather broilers |
| title | Comparison of the Effects of Feeding Compound Probiotics and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Small Intestine Morphology in Yellow-Feather Broilers |
| title_full | Comparison of the Effects of Feeding Compound Probiotics and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Small Intestine Morphology in Yellow-Feather Broilers |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of the Effects of Feeding Compound Probiotics and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Small Intestine Morphology in Yellow-Feather Broilers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of the Effects of Feeding Compound Probiotics and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Small Intestine Morphology in Yellow-Feather Broilers |
| title_short | Comparison of the Effects of Feeding Compound Probiotics and Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Gut Microbiota, and Small Intestine Morphology in Yellow-Feather Broilers |
| title_sort | comparison of the effects of feeding compound probiotics and antibiotics on growth performance gut microbiota and small intestine morphology in yellow feather broilers |
| topic | probiotics antibiotics gut microbiota yellow-feather broilers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/9/2308 |
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