The gut microbiome stimulates nutrient metabolism and could effectively generate heat tolerance in chickens. This study investigates the effects of dietary steam-exploded pine particle (SPP) supplementation and subsequent acute heat stress on productive performance and cecum microbiome in broilers. Eight-day Ross 308 broilers were distributed in three groups with 0%, 1%, and 2% SPP in diets. On the 41st day, forty birds were allocated to four groups with ten birds each. The treatments were control diet at thermoneutral temperature (0% NT) and acute heat-stressed (HS) birds fed control (0% HS), 1% (1% HS), and 2% (2% HS) SPP. Parameters recorded were body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), rectal temperature (RT), relative organ weight, and metagenome analysis from cecum samples. Percent difference in BW, FI, and RT was decreased in HS birds. Metagenome analysis revealed similar richness and diversity in microbial communities. The relative abundance of the bacterial genus such as Limosilactobacillus, Drancourtella, and Ihubacter was increased while that of Alistipes, Alkalibacter, Lachnotalea, and Turicibacter was decreased in SPP supplemented HS birds. Concludingly, the production performance of broilers is negatively influenced during HS, and 2% dietary SPP supplementation may reduce the adverse effects of HS by modifying the microbiota in chickens.

中文翻译：

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日粮中添加经蒸汽爆破的松木颗粒可减少急性热应激肉鸡盲肠中的病原微生物

肠道微生物组刺激营养代谢，可以有效地产生鸡的耐热性。本研究调查了日粮中添加蒸汽爆破松颗粒 (SPP) 和随后的急性热应激对肉鸡生产性能和盲肠微生物群的影响。八天龄的 Ross 308 肉鸡被分成三组，日粮中的 SPP 分别为 0%、1% 和 2%。在第 41 天，40 只鸟被分配到 4 个组，每组 10 只。处理是在热中性温度下的对照饮食 (0% NT) 和急性热应激 (HS) 鸟类喂养对照 (0% HS)、1% (1% HS) 和 2% (2% HS) SPP。记录的参数是体重 (BW)、采食量 (FI)、直肠温度 (RT)、相对器官重量和盲肠样本的宏基因组分析。HS 鸡的 BW、FI 和 RT 的百分比差异降低。宏基因组分析揭示了微生物群落的相似丰富度和多样性。细菌属的相对丰度，例如Limosilactobacillus，Drancourtella和Ihubacter了，而增加Alistipes，Alkalibacter，Lachnotalea和Turicibacter降低在SPP补充HS鸟。综上所述，HS 期间肉鸡的生产性能会受到负面影响，在日粮中添加 2% 的 SPP 可以通过改变鸡的微生物群来减少 HS 的不利影响。