Gut Microbial Composition and Predicted Functions Are Not Associated with Feather Pecking and Antagonistic Behavior in Laying Hens.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Feather pecking is a well-known problem in layer flocks that causes animal welfare restrictions and contributes to economic losses. Birds' gut microbiota has been linked to feather pecking. This study aims to characterize the microbial communities of two laying hen lines divergently selected for high (HFP) and low (LFP) feather pecking and investigates if the microbiota is associated with feather pecking or agonistic behavior.

Methods

Besides phenotyping for the behavioral traits, microbial communities from the digesta and mucosa of the ileum and caeca were investigated using target amplicon sequencing and functional predictions. Microbiability was estimated with a microbial mixed linear model.

Results

Ileum digesta showed an increase in the abundance of th

SUBMITTER: Borda-Molina D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8001194 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature