title: Feed supplementation with red seaweeds, Chondrus crispus and Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii, affects performance, egg quality, and gut microbiota of layer hens.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of red seaweed supplementation to standard poultry diets on production performance, egg quality, intestinal histology, and cecal short-chain fatty acids in Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens. A total of 160 birds were randomly assigned to 8 treatment groups. Control hens were fed a basal layer diet; positive control hens were fed a diet containing 2% inulin; and 6 treatment groups were fed a diet containing one of the following; 0.5, 1, or 2% Chondrus crispus (CC0.5, CC1, and CC2, respectively) and one of the same 3 levels of Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii (SG0.5, SG1, and SG2, respectively). Dietary supplementation had no significant effect on the feed intake, BW, egg production, fecal moisture content, and blood serum profile of the birds. The feed conversion ratio per gram of egg was significantly more efficient (P = 0.001) for CC2 and SG2 treatments. Moreover, SG1 supplementation increased egg yolk weight (P = 0.0035) and birds with CC1 supplementation had higher egg weight (P = 0.0006). The SG2 and CC2 groups had greater (P < 0.05) villus height and villus surface area compared with the control birds. Seaweed supplementation increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria [e.g., Bifidobacterium longum (4- to 14-fold), Streptococcus salivarius (4- to 15-fold)] and importantly reduced the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in the gut of the chicken. Additionally, the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, including acetic acid, propionic acid, n-butyric acid, and i-butyric acid, were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CC and SG treatments than in the control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation using red seaweed inclusions can act as a potential prebiotic to improve performance, egg quality, and overall gut health in layer hens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, PO Box 550, Truro, NS, Canada B2N 5E3 Acadian Seaplants Limited, 30 Brown Avenue, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B3B 1X8.
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kulshreshtha
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, PO Box 550, Truro, NS, Canada B2N 5E3.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rathgeber
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, PO Box 550, Truro, NS, Canada B2N 5E3.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stratton
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4J1.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Acadian Seaplants Limited, 30 Brown Avenue, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B3B 1X8.
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Acadian Seaplants Limited, 30 Brown Avenue, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B3B 1X8.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Critchley
authors.affiliation: Acadian Seaplants Limited, 30 Brown Avenue, Dartmouth, NS, Canada B3B 1X8.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hafting
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, PO Box 550, Truro, NS, Canada B2N 5E3 bprithiviraj@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Balakrishnan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prithiviraj
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D044723:Chondrus; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004531:Eggs / Q000592:standards; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*
keywords: Chondrus crispus; Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii; beneficial bacteria; prebiotics; short-chain fatty acid