Influence of fermented whey protein fractions on the growth performance, haematological traits, serum biochemistry, faecal and caeca microbiota of broiler chickens

Abstract

Nowadays researchers and consumers are concerned about antibiotic resistance in poultry products causing antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Here, we investigated the effects of fermented whey peptides (FWP) with Limosilactobacillus fermentum (M4) as a nutraceutical supplement on growth performance, blood parameters, relative organs, and metagenomic analysis of broiler chickens, aiming to develop substitute for antibiotics in poultry feeds. An active culture of Lactobacillus fermentum (M4, GenBank Accession Number: MF951096) was inoculated into sterilized cheese whey at a rate of 2% (v/v) (10⁷ CFU/ml) and incubated at 37 °C for 48 h. Ninety-six one-day-old mixed-sex commercial broiler chicks were randomly assigned in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment with four treatments, each having four replicates of six broiler chickens (6 × 4 × 4). One millilitre of liquid FWP fractions (> 10 kDa, < 10 kDa, and < 3 kDa) was freshly prepared and administered daily to the respective groups along with the basal diet from the 8th to the 15th day. Our current study revealed that supplementation with FWPs to broiler diets had no significant (p < 0.05) impact on body weight and FCR but numerically FCR value was high in control group. Blood cholesterol was significantly reduced in FWP fed groups. FWP had no significant impact on various blood parameters but influenced leukocytes and platelets. Metagenomic analysis showed no significant differences in microbial proportions. Histological analysis revealed no organ toxicity. The current findings suggest that broiler diets can substitute FWP for antibiotics to improve the growth performance and birds' health, without posing any biohazards. Furthermore, FWPs provide a variety of health benefits, potentially improving the health of humans who consume broiler meat or eggs.

Keywords: Blood cholesterol; Broiler birds; Cheddar cheese whey; Lactobacillus; Metagenome; Whey peptides.

Fig. 1

Effect of dietary supplementation with different fractions of FWP on body weight gain of broiler chickens. Values with different superscripts differ significantly (p < 0.05), Mean ± SD, n = 4.

Fig. 2

Effect of dietary supplementation with different fractions of FWP on feed intake of broiler chickens. Values with different superscripts differ significantly (p < 0.05), Mean ± SD, n = 4.

Fig. 3

Effect of dietary supplementation with different fractions of FWP on FCR of broiler chickens [Values with different superscripts differ significantly (p < 0.05), Mean ± SD, n = 4].

Fig. 4

Effects of dietary supplementation with different fractions of FWP on Lipid profile and glucose content of broiler chickens. Values with different superscripts differ significantly (p < 0.05), Mean ± SD, n = 4.

Fig. 5

Presents the photomicrographs of Hematoxylin and Eosin-stained heart, intestine, and liver sections of various groups of broiler chickens.

Fig. 6

A Alpha diversity measures of cecal content. B Nonmetric multidimensional screening (NMDS) plot produced by means of Bray–Curtis distance and grouped by treatments. C Canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) plot produced by means of Bray–Curtis distance and grouped by treatments. D Bar plots showing diversity at Phylum level taxonomy. E Bar plots showing diversity at Genus level taxonomy. F The comparison of mean relative abundance of different phyla in different treatment groups. G Plot of different phylum composition of various treatment groups.

Fig. 6

A Alpha diversity measures of cecal content. B Nonmetric multidimensional screening (NMDS) plot produced by means of Bray–Curtis distance and grouped by treatments. C Canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) plot produced by means of Bray–Curtis distance and grouped by treatments. D Bar plots showing diversity at Phylum level taxonomy. E Bar plots showing diversity at Genus level taxonomy. F The comparison of mean relative abundance of different phyla in different treatment groups. G Plot of different phylum composition of various treatment groups.