Supplementation of amylase combined with glucoamylase or protease changes intestinal microbiota diversity and benefits for broilers fed a diet of newly harvested corn

Background: The effect of amylases combined with exogenous carbohydrase and protease in a newly harvested corn diet on starch digestibility, intestine health and cecal microbiota was investigated in broiler chickens.Methods: Two hunderd and eighty-eight 5-day-old female chickens were randomly divided into six treatments: a newly harvested corn-soybean meal diet(control); control supplemented with 1,500 U/g α-amylase(Enzyme A);Enzyme A + 300 U/g amylopectase + 20,000 U/g glucoamylase(Enzyme B); Enzyme B + protease 10,000 U/g(Enzyme C); Enzyme C + xylanase 15,000 U/g(Enzyme D); and Enzyme D + cellulase 200 U/g + pectinase 1,000 U/g(Enzyme E). Growth performance, starch digestibility, digestive organ morphology, and intestinal microbiota were evaluated in the birds at 16 and 23 d of age.Results: Compared with the control diet, supplementation with Enzyme A significantly decreased ileum lesion scoring at 16 d of age(P < 0.05); supplementation with Enzyme B or Enzyme C showed positive effects on ileal amylopectin and total starch digestibility(P < 0.05); Broilers fed with a diet supplemented with Enzyme D had a tendency to decrease body weight gain at 23 d. Enzyme E supplementation improved lesion scoring of jejunum and ileum at 16 d(P < 0.05), and increased ileal amylopectin or total starch digestibility at 23 d(P < 0.05).Supplementation of enzymes changed cecal microbiota diversity. High numbers of Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Butyricicoccus, Anaerostipes and Bifidobacterium, Sutterella and Odoribacter were the main genera detected in supplementations with Enzymes B, C, D, and E respectively.Conclusions: Supplementation with amylase combined with glucoamylase or protease showed a beneficial effect on starch digestibility and intestinal microbiota diversity, and increased growth of broilers fed with newly harvested corn.

Insights into the proteomic profile of newly harvested corn and metagenomic analysis of the broiler intestinal microbiota

Background:The use of newly harvested corn in feed causes wet droppings in broilers and increased feed cost which was termed as“new season grain problem”.The present study was conducted to evaluate the proteomic profile of newly harvested corn and the subsequent influence on intestinal microbiol community for broiler chickens.Methods:Newly harvested corn stored for either half a month(HM)or two months(TM)was used,and the pasting properties,total soluble sugars,and proteomic analysis technology was used to explore the influence of storage on natural aging corn properties.Additionally,seventy-two 7-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicken were fed with different stored corn.Apparent metabolizable energy(AME),digesta viscosity,intestinal morphology and microbiota were examined to explore the influence of feed corn storage on broiler chickens.Results:Pasting properties in the TM corn exhibited decreased viscoelastic properties.Proteomic studies found a total of 26 proteins that were differentially expressed between the two treatment groups.Proteins involved in starch and polysaccharides biosynthesis were upregulated in TM compared with HM.Chickens fed on TM diet had higher relative energy utilization compared to the HM birds.With increased corn storage,the relative digesta viscosity decreased significantly(P≤0.05).The total number of goblet cells and lymphocytes was lower in chickens fed the TM diet.The microbiota data showed that the TM chickens had decreased abundance of diarrheal bacteria such as Hungatella hathewayi and Bacteroides fragilis,and increased butyrate-producing bacteria such as Alistipes compared to the HM chickens.Conclusions:Storage of newly harvested corn induced the synthetic reaction of large molecules and changed the solubility of starch and protein with increasing soluble sugars and decreasing pasting properties that may improve the fermentation of intestinal microbiota,improve the energy utilization and protect gut health without the risk of diarrhea.