Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens

Abstract

Recently, the Netherlands has shifted toward more welfare-friendly broiler production systems using slower-growing broiler breeds. Early post-hatch feeding (EF) is a dietary strategy that is currently used in commercial broiler production to modulate the gut microbiota and improve performance and welfare. However, there is a knowledge gap in how both breed and EF and their interplay affect gut microbiota composition and diversity, inflammatory status, and broiler behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of breed (fast vs. slower-growing), EF, and their interaction on jejunum microbiota, inflammation, and behavior of broiler chickens. The study included a total of 416 Ross 308 and 416 Hubbard JA757 day-old male broiler chickens, observed until they were 37 days and 51 days old, respectively. Within each breed, one-half of the chickens received EF and the other half did not. A total of two chickens per pen were euthanized at two time points, that is, target body weight (BW) of 200 g and 2.5 kg, and jejunum samples were collected. The jejunum content samples (