The digestive and reproductive tract microbiotas and their association with body weight in laying hens.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Su Y
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8449050 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:This study was aimed to isolate sinapine-degrading bacteria from the intestinal tract of laying hens and to identify the predominant bacteria. Thirty-week old healthy laying hens were killed, and the chyme in the digestive tract was inoculated into modified Czapek medium containing sinapin and cultivated at 37 °C for 10 days. The optical density (OD) values of the bacterial solutions at different cultivating times were detected by a spectrophotometric method. The predominant strains were identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis. We extracted the extracellular products of the predominant strains to determine the total protein using the Coomassie brilliant blue method, and to determine the activities of some extracellular enzymes using the agar plate diffusion method. Nine strains were isolated from the lower intestinal tract of laying hens. Among the 9 strains, 5 were from the ileum, 2 were from the ceca and 2 were from the jejunum. We could not isolate any strains from the upper intestinal tract, such as the stomach and duodenum. Eight of those 9 isolated strains were gram negative and one was gram positive. Strains YD-1 and YD-2 were better than other strains in their abilities to degrade sinapine. Strains YD-1 and YD-2 were identified as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp., respectively, by the 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The total protein level of the extracellular products was 1.213 g/L for YD-1 and 1.990 g/L for YD-2. Both extracellular products of YD-1 and YD-2 had the activities of protease, amylase and urease. This study confirmed that the primary site of sinapine degradation is in the lower intestinal tract of laying hens. The sinapine-degrading strains are mainly gram negative. Strains YD-1 and YD-2 are predominant in degrading sinapine and they belong to E. coli and Klebsiella spp., respectively. Both extracellular products of YD-1 and YD-2 contain protease, amylase and urease. Strain YD-2 is better than strain YD-1 in its ability to degrade sinapine.
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Project description:Keel bone damage is an important animal welfare problem in laying hens. Two generations of four layer lines, differing in phylogenetic background and performance level and kept in single cages or floor pens were weighed and scored for keel bone deformities (KBD) during the laying period. KBD, keel bone fractures (KBF) and the bone mineral density (BMD) of the keels were assessed post mortem. For BMD, relationships to laying performance and body growth were estimated. Caged hens showed more deformities, but fewer fractures and a lower BMD of the keel bone than floor-housed hens. White-egg layers had a lower BMD (0.140-0.165 g/cm2) and more KBD than brown-egg layers (0.179-0.184 g/cm2). KBF occurred more often in the high-performing lines than the moderate-performing ones. However, in the high-performing lines, BMD was positively related to total egg number from 18 to 29 weeks of age. The adult body weight derived from fitted growth curves (Gompertz function) had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on keels' BMD. The study contributes to the understanding of predisposing factors for keel bone damage in laying hens. It showed that the growth rate has a rather subordinate effect on keels' BMD, while the BMD itself greatly affects KBD.
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Project description:Worldwide, farm animals are kept on litter or foraging substrate that becomes increasingly soiled throughout the production cycle. For animals like laying hens, this means that it is likely they would scratch, forage and consume portions of excreta found in the litter or foraging substrate. However, no study has investigated the relative preference of laying hens for foraging and consumption of feed mixed with different percentages of excreta. A total of 48 White Leghorn laying hens of two strains, a commercial strain (Lohmann LSL-Lite (LSL), n=24) and UCD-003 strain (susceptible to liver damage, n=24), were individually housed and given access to feed mixed with increasing percentages of hen excreta (0%, 33%, 66% and 100% excreta diets) and corn as a luxury food reward (four corn kernels per diet daily). The amount of substrate and number of corn kernels consumed from each diet was recorded for a period of 3 weeks. Both LSL and UCD-003 hens preferred to consume and forage in diets with 0% excreta, followed by 33% and finally diets containing 66% and 100% excreta. Despite the presence of excreta-free diets, birds consumed on average 61.3 g per day of the diets containing excreta. Neither physical health, measured by plasma enzyme activity levels, nor cognitive differences, assessed by recalling a visual discrimination task, was associated with relative feeding or foraging preference. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a clear preference for feeding and foraging on substrate without excreta in laying hens. However, considering the amount of excreta diets consumed, further studies are needed to understand the causes and consequences of excreta consumption on physiological and psychological functioning, and how this information can be used to allow adjustments in the management of foraging substrates in farmed birds.
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Project description:BACKGROUND: An association study between single nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNP) and (innate and adaptive) immune parameters but also feather condition score on the back, rump and belly of laying hens was performed. The immune parameters measured in blood samples were natural and acquired antibody titers and complement activity. Feather condition score as a measure of feather damage was determined, this parameter is closely related to feather pecking behavior in hens housed in groups.The aim of the study was to detect associations between genetic markers and immune parameters and feather condition score across nine lines of laying hens, focusing on the feather peckers as well as on the victims of feather pecking. METHODS: A novel approach based on across-line analysis and testing of the SNP-by-line interaction was performed. RESULTS: In total 59 significant associations between SNP and immune traits were detected. Previously identified QTL were confirmed and new associations of genes regulating immune function identified. The IL17A gene (chromosome 3) influences natural and acquired antibody titers and activation of classical and alternative complement pathways. The major histocompatibility complex on chromosome 16 showed significant association with natural and acquired antibody titers and classical complement activity. The IL12B and IRF1 genes on chromosome 13 were associated with natural antibody titers.The direct effect of the genotype of an individual on its feather condition and the associative effect of the genotype of the cage mates on the individual's feather condition were analyzed. The direct genetic effect can be described as the susceptibility to be pecked at, and the associative genetic effect as the propensity to perform feather pecking. Eleven significant associations were detected for the direct effect, and 81 for the associative effect. The serotonin receptor 2C (HTR2C) on chromosome 4 was highlighted in both analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed previously identified QTL and identified new associations of genes regulating immune function. The results for feather condition score supports existing evidence of involvement of the serotonergic system in feather pecking in laying hens. Immune regulatory genes were found to be associated to feather condition score, revealing relationships between the immune system and behavior.
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Project description:Differences in the gut microbial composition of divergently selected laying hen lines does not affect feather pecking and agonistic behavior
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