AUTHOR=Obianwuna Uchechukwu Edna , Qiu Kai , Chang Xin-yu , Zhang Hai-jun , Wang Jing , Qi Guang-hai , Sun Tie-hu , Su Yong-bo , Wu Shu-geng 

TITLE=Enhancing egg production and quality by the supplementation of probiotic strains (Clostridium and Brevibacillus) via improved amino acid digestibility, intestinal health, immune response, and antioxidant activity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.987241

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.987241

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>This study focused on evaluating the influence of <italic>Clostridium butyricum</italic> and <italic>Brevibacillus</italic> strains on egg production, egg quality, immune response and antioxidant function, apparent fecal amino acid digestibility, and jejunal morphology when supplemented as probiotics in the diets of laying hens in the peak phase. A total of 288 healthy 30-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were arbitrarily assigned to four dietary groups, which included control diet and control diet supplemented with 0.02% <italic>C. butyricum</italic> zlc-17, <italic>C. butyricum</italic> lwc-13, or <italic>Brevibacillus</italic> zlb-z1, for 84 days. The results showed that dietary <italic>C. butyricum</italic> and <italic>Brevibacillus</italic> sp. exerted a positively significant influence (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.05) compared to the control group on the performance, egg quality, and physiological response of the birds. The diets could reduce mortality rate and enhance (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.05) egg weight and egg mass, egg production rate, and feed efficiency. Further analysis suggested that the probiotic strains can enhance (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.05) eggshell quality, Haugh unit, thick albumen content, and albumen height. Also, probiotics enhanced (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.05) the antioxidant status <italic>via</italic> increased antioxidant enzymes and jejunal morphology as evidenced by increased villi surface area (VSA), the ratio of villi height to crypt depth, villi width, and villi height, and a significant reduction in crypt depth. Besides, nutrient absorption and retention were enhanced, as apparent fecal amino acid digestibility of key essential amino acids was substantially improved in the diet-based group. The concentrations of immunoglobulin M and A (IgM and IgA) increased significantly (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.05) in the probiotics group and the same effect was notable for complement proteins (C3) and immune organ (Spleen). Conclusively, the supplementation of <italic>Clostridium butyricum</italic> zlc-17 in comparison to <italic>Clostridium butyricum</italic> lwc-13 and <italic>Brevibacillus</italic> zlb-z1 strains significantly (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.05) promoted the antioxidant status, modulated the intestinal structure, enhanced amino acid digestibility, and regulated the immunity index of the laying hens, which finally improves the laying performance and egg quality of the laying hens.</p>