Fermented cottonseed meal improves production performance, immune function and intestinal microecological environment of laying hens and its nutritional properties.
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Global population growth and consumption upgrades have led to an increase in demand for animal feed protein sources, which has prompted an urgent need to find economical alternative protein sources. In this study, the potential of partially replacing traditional protein source soybean meal (SBM) with fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) in practical applications were evaluated.
Methods: The 180 24-week-old Hyland Brown laying hens were randomly divided into a control group (CON, fed SBM) and an experimental group (FCSM, fed FCSM). The effects of FCSM on the production performance, immune system, intestinal morphology and microbiota composition of laying hens were investigated. Furthermore, the enrichment of FCSM for characteristic nutrient metabolites and key pathways was further explored.
Results: The feed-to-egg ratio and egg quality indexes (eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, albumen height and Haugh units) of laying hens in the FCSM group were significantly better than those of the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, splenic index, immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA) and albumin/globulin ratio were stable in the FCSM group. FCSM significantly increased the species richness of the gut flora as well as the beneficial bacteria such as Rikenellace_ae_RC9_gut_group and Romboutsia (p < 0.05). Non-targeted metabolomics analyses indicated that microbial solidstate fermentation technology increased the levels of nutrients in CSM, such as L-glutamine, ornithine, citrulline, and D-galactose.
Conclusion: FCSM promoted the absorption of nutrients and intestinal health in laying hens by regulating the intestinal flora, demonstrating superior efficacy over BSM in overall production performance, immune function, and intestinal morphology. These findings provides a theoretical basis for the resource reuse in CSM and the precise nutrition of laying hens.
期刊介绍:
Frontiers in Veterinary Science is a global, peer-reviewed, Open Access journal that bridges animal and human health, brings a comparative approach to medical and surgical challenges, and advances innovative biotechnology and therapy.
Veterinary research today is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and socially relevant, transforming how we understand and investigate animal health and disease. Fundamental research in emerging infectious diseases, predictive genomics, stem cell therapy, and translational modelling is grounded within the integrative social context of public and environmental health, wildlife conservation, novel biomarkers, societal well-being, and cutting-edge clinical practice and specialization. Frontiers in Veterinary Science brings a 21st-century approach—networked, collaborative, and Open Access—to communicate this progress and innovation to both the specialist and to the wider audience of readers in the field.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science publishes articles on outstanding discoveries across a wide spectrum of translational, foundational, and clinical research. The journal''s mission is to bring all relevant veterinary sciences together on a single platform with the goal of improving animal and human health.