Hydroxychloride trace minerals have a positive effect on growth performance,carcass quality and impact ileal and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens

Background:The objective was to study the effect of hydroxychloride trace minerals(HTM)on growth performance,carcass quality and gut microbiota of broiler chickens in comparison to sulphate trace minerals(STM).In total 1440 male Ross 308 day-old chicks were divided into 12 replicate pens with 30 birds each per treatment.Four different treatments were tested according to a 2×2 factorial study design,where the animals received a three phase diet containing either inorganic Zn from sulphates or Zn from HTM in high(80 mg/kg Zn)or low Zn dosage(20 mg/kg Zn).In all treatments 15 mg/kg Cu was added from the same mineral source as the Zn.Body weight and feed intake were measured on day 0,10,27 and 34,while carcass and breast meat yields were measured at the end of the study(day 34).In addition,high-throughput sequencing analysis was performed in digesta samples from ileum and cecum to study the gut microbiome(day 34).Results:The results showed an improved(P<0.05)body weight of broiler chickens fed HTM,regardless of Zn level,on day 27,while on day 34 this effect remained as a tendency(P=0.0542).In the overall study period,birds fed HTM had a higher(P<0.05)average daily gain and average daily feed intake when compared to birds fed STM.The mineral source did not affect the carcass characteristics,however,feeding 80 mg/kg Zn resulted in a significantly higher(P=0.0171)breast meat yield,regardless of source.High-throughput sequencing analysis of the microbiota revealed a higher microbial diversity in the ileum and cecum of HTM fed birds compared to STM fed birds.Taxonomical differences were mainly found in the cecum,specifically between the group fed high and low Zn levels from HTM.This correlated with the mineral contents observed in the cecal digesta.Comparing both groups fed 80 mg/kg Zn,the HTM group had more Streptococcaceae,Streptococcus,Clostridia,Weissella and Leuconostocaceae compared to the STM group.Conclusions:HTM improved growth performance of broiler chickens;and the source and level of Zn modulated the gut microbiota communities in broilers differentially.

Selective ligninolysis of wheat straw and wood chips by the white-rot fungus Lentinula edodes and its influence on in vitro rumen degradability

Background： The present work investigated the influence of lignin content and composition in the fungal treatment of lignocellulosic biomass in order to improve rumen degradability. Wheat straw and wood chips,differing in lignin composition, were treated with Lentinula edodes for 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 wk and the changes occurring during fungal degradation were analyzed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and detergent fiber analysis.Results： L. edodes preferentially degraded lignin, with only limited cellulose degradation, in wheat straw and wood chips, leaving a substrate enriched in cellulose. Syringyl（S）-lignin units were preferentially degraded than guaiacyl（G）-lignin units, resulting in a decreased S/G ratio. A decreasing S/G ratio（wheat straw： r =-0.72, wood chips： r =-0.75） and selective lignin degradation（wheat straw： r =-0.69, wood chips： r =-0.88） were correlated with in vitro gas production（IVGP）, a good indicator for rumen degradability.Conclusions： L. edodes treatment increased the IVGP of wheat straw and wood chips. Effects on IVGP were similar for wheat straw and wood chips indicating that lignin content and 3D-structure of cell walls influence in vitro rumen degradability more than lignin composition.