AUTHOR=Gao Qingtao , Wang Yanchun , Li Jiaheng , Bai Guosong , Liu Lei , Zhong Ruqing , Ma Teng , Pan Hongbin , Zhang Hongfu 

TITLE=Supplementation of multi-enzymes alone or combined with inactivated Lactobacillus benefits growth performance and gut microbiota in broilers fed wheat diets

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.927932

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.927932

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The effects of multi-enzymes mixture supplementation or combination with inactivated <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> on growth performance, intestinal barrier, and cecal microbiota were investigated in broilers at the age of 15–42 days fed a wheat-based diet. A total of 576 broilers (12 broilers/cage; <italic>n</italic> = 12) were used and divided into four groups and randomly allotted to four experimental diets throughout grower (15–28 days of age) and finisher (29–42 days of age) phases. Diets consisted of a corn-soybean meal-based diet (BD), a wheat-soybean meal-based diet (WD), and WD supplemented multi-enzymes (WED) or combined with inactivated <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> (WEPD). The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG) and body weight (BW) were reduced in broilers fed WD diet compared with those fed BD diet during the grower period (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Broilers in the WED or WEPD group had higher ADG and BW during the grower period (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) and had a lower feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) compared to broilers in the WD group during the grower and overall periods (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Improved expression of intestinal barrier genes (claudin-1, ZO-1, and mucin-2) was observed in WEPD compared to the BD or WD group (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Compared to the BD group, the WD group decreased the abundance of <italic>Oscillospira</italic>, <italic>norank_f__Erysipelotrichaceae</italic>, and <italic>Peptococcus</italic>, which are related to anti-inflammatory function and BW gain. The WD also increased <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> and some short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (<italic>Anaerotruncus</italic>, <italic>Blautia</italic>, and <italic>Oscillibacter</italic>), and <italic>Barnesiella</italic>, which were presumed as “harmful microbes” [false discovery rate (FDR) &lt; 0.05]. WED and WEPD groups, respectively, improved <italic>Bilophila</italic> and <italic>Eubacterium_hallii_group</italic> compared with those in the WD group (FDR &lt; 0.05). In addition, the <italic>Enterococcus</italic> abundance was reduced in the WEPD group compared to the WD group (FDR &lt; 0.05). Higher acetate and total SCFA concentrations were observed (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) among broilers who received a WD diet. Compared with the WD group, the WED or WEPD group further increased cecal propionate content (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) and tended to improve butyrate concentration. These results suggested that supplemental multi-enzymes alone and combined with inactivated <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> could improve the growth performance based on the wheat-based diet and offer additional protective effects on the intestinal barrier function of broilers.</p>