Evaluation of dynamic effects of dietary medium-chain monoglycerides on performance, intestinal development and gut microbiota of broilers in large-scale production

Tao Liu; Shengyue Ruan; Qiufen Mo; Minjie Zhao; Jing Wang; Zhangying Ye; Li Chen; Fengqin Feng

doi:10.1016/j.aninu.2023.05.003

Evaluation of dynamic effects of dietary medium-chain monoglycerides on performance, intestinal development and gut microbiota of broilers in large-scale production

Anim Nutr. 2023 May 20:14:269-280. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2023.05.003. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Tao Liu^{1

2

3}, Shengyue Ruan^{1

3}, Qiufen Mo^{1

3}, Minjie Zhao^{1

3}, Jing Wang^{2

3}, Zhangying Ye^{1

3}, Li Chen^{4

3}, Fengqin Feng^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
² Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315000, China.
³ Hangzhou Longyu Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou 310003, China.
⁴ The Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China.

Abstract

Medium-chain monoglycerides (MG) have been reported to affect the productive performance, gut microbiota and health of broiler chickens reared in ideal experimental conditions at home and abroad. However, the effects of MG on performance, intestinal development and gut microbiota of chickens in large-scale farms during different feed stages remain unknown. The present study was conducted on a modern farm with a total of 12,000 yellow feathered broiler chicks that were randomly allotted to 2 groups (1000 chicks/replicate, 6 replicates/group) for a 70-day trial. The control group (CON group) received a basal diet, and the treated group (MG group) was fed a basal diet containing 300 mg/kg mixed MG. The results revealed that dietary MG significantly (P < 0.05) increased the body weight and average feed intake, but notably reduced the feed conversion and mortality of chickens in large-scale production during the starter phase. The villus height of the duodenum in the MG group at 1, 2 and 7 wk of age increased notably, and the villus height to crypt depth ratio at 1, 2, 5 and 10 wk of age was improved. Dietary MG decreased the serum insulin content of chickens at 5, 7 and 10 wk of age, and decreased the serum lipopolysaccharide at 3 and 7 wk of age. The triglyceride level of chickens at 3, 5 and 10 wk of age and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of chickens at 7 and 10 wk of age in the MG group decreased notably, while the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly. Moreover, MG supplementation selectively increased the relative abundance of genus Bacteroides (family Bacteroidaceae) and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, but decreased the content of genus Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Collinsella and family Barnesiellaceae in the cecum of chickens at 3, 7 and 10 wk of age. Conclusively, these findings showed that dietary MG notably enhanced chicken performance, health and feed nutrient utilization at early ages by regulating gut microbiota, intestinal development and serum biochemical indices.

Keywords: Broiler chickens; Dynamic effect; Fat deposition; Gut microbiota; Medium-chain monoglycerides.