Dietary supplementation of Macleaya cordata extract and Bacillus in combination improve laying performance by regulating reproductive hormones,intestinal microbiota and barrier function of laying hens

Background:This study aimed to investigate whether the combination of Macleaya cordata extract(MCE)and Bacil-lus could improve the laying performance and health of laying hens better.Methods:A total of 36029-week-old Jingbai laying hens were randomly divided into 4 treatments:control group(basal diet),MCE group(basal diet+MCE),Probiotics Bacillus Compound(PBC)group(basal diet+compound Bacil-lus),MCE+PBC group(basal diet+MCE+compound Bacillus).The feeding experiment lasted for 42 d.Results:The results showed that the laying rate and the average daily egg mass in the MCE+PBC group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05)and better than the MCE and PBC group.Combina-tion of MCE and Bacillus significantly increased the content of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)in the serum and up-regulated the expression of related hormone receptor gene(estrogen receptor-β,FSHR and luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor)in the ovary of laying hens(P<0.05).In the MCE+PBC group,the mRNA expressions of zonula occluden-1,Occludin and mucin-2 in jejunum was increased and the intestinal epithelial barrier detected by transmission electron microscopy was enhanced compared with the control group(P<0.05).In addition,compared with the control group,combination of MCE and Bacillus significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity and catalase activity(P<0.05),and down-regulated the mRNA expressions of inflammation-related genes(interleukin-1βand tumor necrosis factor-α)as well as apoptosis-related genes(Caspase 3,Caspase 8 and P53)(P<0.05).The concen-tration of acetic acid and butyric acid in the cecum content of laying hens in the MCE+PBC group was significantly increased compared with the control group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Collectively,dietary supplementation of 600μg/kg MCE and 5×108 CFU/kg compound Bacillus can improve laying performance by improving microbiota to enhance antioxidant capacity and intestinal barrier,regulate reproductive hormones and the concentration of cecal short-chain fatty acids of laying hens,and the combined effect of MCE and Bacillus is better than that of single supplementation.

Mechanism of the Effect of Bacillus coagulans on Production Performance of Laying Hens in Late Laying Period

[Objective]The paper was to investigate the mechanism of Bacillus coagulans preparation in improving production performance of laying hens in late period of laying.[Method]A total of 648 individuals of"Jingfen 1"laying hens(66 weeks of age)in late period of laying were randomly divided into four groups,six replicates each group,and each group had 27 individuals of laying hens.The laying hens in control group were fed with basal diet,and those in experimental groupsⅠ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were fed with the basal diets added with 3.33×10^6,1×10^7,3.33×10^7 CFU/g B.coagulans,respectively.The pretrial lasted one week,and the formal test lasted eight weeks.[Result]Compared with the control group,the laying rate in group Ⅰ increased significantly,and the feed-gain ratio in experimental group Ⅱ decreased noticeably while the spleen index increased remarkably;the alkaline phosphatase activities and blood calcium content in experimental groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ increased significantly(P<0.05),while the triglyceride content decreased remarkably(P<0.05);the urea content in experimental groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ decreased obviously(P<0.05).Adding B.coagulans significantly increased the specific activity of amylase,lipase and protease in various intestinal mucosa of small intestine(P<0.05);adding B.coagulans significantly increased the content of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)and estradiol(E2),and significantly increased the mRNA expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor gene(FSHR).[Conclusion]B.coagulans preparation could significantly improve the production performance of laying hens in late period of laying;appropriately enhance the immune capacity of laying hens;improve the serum biochemical indicators;increase the activity of digestive enzymes in the small intestine;and promote the release of gonadal hormone and the mRNA expression of FSHR gene in the ovary.

植物甾醇对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、鸡蛋胆固醇含量及血清生殖激素水平的影响

选用1 500羽520日龄伊莎褐商品蛋鸡,随机分成5组,每组6个重复,第1组为对照组,试验组日粮中分别添加5、10、20和40 mg/kg植物甾醇,研究植物甾醇对蛋鸡产蛋后期生产性能、鸡蛋胆固醇含量及血清生殖激素水平的影响。结果表明,与对照组相比,添加植物甾醇对蛋鸡产蛋后期的平均蛋重及产蛋率均无显著影响,但能降低死淘率,20 mg/kg的植物甾醇添加量效果较好;降低了蛋黄的胆固醇含量;试验前期,试验组血清的生殖激素水平无显著变化,试验后期,第2和5组的雌二醇(E2)有显著提高,第2和4组的促黄体素(LH)明显降低,试验组的促卵泡素(FSH)及促乳素(PRL)均无显著影响。