Effects of anti-inflammatory and digestive-promoting fermented Chinese herbs on cecum microbiota composition and content metabolome of Chinese chickens ( Gallus domesticus ) ...

In this study, 168 chicks were randomly divided into two groups to elucidate the effect of fermented Chinese herbs (FCHs) on the intestinal microbiota of Chinese chickens ( Gallus domesticus ) and provide a scientific basis for the development and application of FCHs feed additives. The chicks were fed a basal diet for 7 days during the pre-feeding period. Thereafter, the control group was fed a basal diet, and the experimental group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 1.5% FCHs for 43 days. After being weighed and euthanised, the chickens were dissected to obtain the caecum content to analyse the intestinal microbiota composition using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and metabolites using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. Our results showed that FCHs had no effect on the growth and serum immunological indices of Chinese chickens but significantly increased the bursa of Fabricius index, and reduced the α-diversity and affected composition of ...