Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Coarse or Extruded Oat Hulls on Growth Performance Blood Biochemical Parameters Ceca Microbiota and Short Chain Fatty Acids in Broiler Chickens

摘要

Oat hull (OH) is an excellent source of insoluble fiber, which may improve chickens’ gastrointestinal health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. Extrusion may modify OH fiber fractions resulting in a differential effect on gut microbiota. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with coarse or extruded OH on growth performance, blood biochemistry and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and microbiota of broiler chickens. Broiler chickens were assigned four diets: a corn-wheat-soybean-based diet, an antibiotics diet, 3% coarse OH (COH), and 3% extruded OH (EOH) supplemented diets. Birds fed COH and EOH had reduced BWG, but there was no diet effect on FCR. There was a significant increase in relative gizzard weight among birds that were fed COH. Dietary treatments had no effect on blood biochemical parameters and SCFA concentration. Cecal microbial composition of chickens was mostly comprised of Firmicutes and Tenericutes. Seven bacteria species that were differentially abundant among treatments were identified