The temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocks
The microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract influences gut health, which in turn strongly impacts the general health and productivity of laying hens. It is essential to characterise the composition and temporal development of the gut microbiota in healthy layers raised under different management sy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Animal Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654523000963 |
| _version_ | 1797384022016393216 |
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| author | Nitish Joat Yadav S. Bajagai Thi Thu Hao Van Dragana Stanley Kapil Chousalkar Robert J. Moore |
| author_facet | Nitish Joat Yadav S. Bajagai Thi Thu Hao Van Dragana Stanley Kapil Chousalkar Robert J. Moore |
| author_sort | Nitish Joat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract influences gut health, which in turn strongly impacts the general health and productivity of laying hens. It is essential to characterise the composition and temporal development of the gut microbiota in healthy layers raised under different management systems, to understand the variations in typical healthy microbiota structure, so that deviations from this might be recognised and correlated with production and health issues when they arise. The present investigation aimed to study the temporal development and phylogenetic composition of the gut microbiota of four commercially raised layer flocks from hatch to end of the production cycle. Non-intrusive faecal sampling was undertaken as a proxy to represent the gut microbiota. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was used to characterise the microbiota. Beta diversity analysis indicated that each faecal microbiota was different across the four flocks and had subtly different temporal development patterns. Despite these inter-flock differences, common patterns of microbiota development were identified. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were dominant at an early age in all flocks. The microbiota developed gradually during the rearing phase; richness and diversity increased after 42 d of age and then underwent significant changes in composition after the shift to the production farms, with Bacteroidota becoming more dominant in older birds. By developing a more profound knowledge of normal microbiota development in layers, opportunities to harness the microbiota to aid in the management of layer gut health and productivity may be more clearly seen and realised. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:29:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae0d15dcaea34983b6eda6572b6f5131 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-6545 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:29:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae0d15dcaea34983b6eda6572b6f51312023-12-21T07:32:59ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Animal Nutrition2405-65452023-12-0115197209The temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocksNitish Joat0Yadav S. Bajagai1Thi Thu Hao Van2Dragana Stanley3Kapil Chousalkar4Robert J. Moore5School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, AustraliaInstitute for Future Farming Systems, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, 4701, AustraliaSchool of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, AustraliaInstitute for Future Farming Systems, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, 4701, AustraliaSchool of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, AustraliaSchool of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia; Corresponding author.The microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract influences gut health, which in turn strongly impacts the general health and productivity of laying hens. It is essential to characterise the composition and temporal development of the gut microbiota in healthy layers raised under different management systems, to understand the variations in typical healthy microbiota structure, so that deviations from this might be recognised and correlated with production and health issues when they arise. The present investigation aimed to study the temporal development and phylogenetic composition of the gut microbiota of four commercially raised layer flocks from hatch to end of the production cycle. Non-intrusive faecal sampling was undertaken as a proxy to represent the gut microbiota. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was used to characterise the microbiota. Beta diversity analysis indicated that each faecal microbiota was different across the four flocks and had subtly different temporal development patterns. Despite these inter-flock differences, common patterns of microbiota development were identified. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were dominant at an early age in all flocks. The microbiota developed gradually during the rearing phase; richness and diversity increased after 42 d of age and then underwent significant changes in composition after the shift to the production farms, with Bacteroidota becoming more dominant in older birds. By developing a more profound knowledge of normal microbiota development in layers, opportunities to harness the microbiota to aid in the management of layer gut health and productivity may be more clearly seen and realised.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654523000963Chicken microbiotaFaecal microbiotaFirmicutesHousing conditionProteobacteria |
| spellingShingle | Nitish Joat Yadav S. Bajagai Thi Thu Hao Van Dragana Stanley Kapil Chousalkar Robert J. Moore The temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocks Animal Nutrition Chicken microbiota Faecal microbiota Firmicutes Housing condition Proteobacteria |
| title | The temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocks |
| title_full | The temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocks |
| title_fullStr | The temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | The temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocks |
| title_short | The temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocks |
| title_sort | temporal fluctuations and development of faecal microbiota in commercial layer flocks |
| topic | Chicken microbiota Faecal microbiota Firmicutes Housing condition Proteobacteria |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654523000963 |
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