Use of fermented Chinese medicine residues as a feed additive and effects on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal health of broilers

Abstract

The findings revealed that the addition of FCMR decreased FCR and increased ADG in broilers (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Adding FCMR increased steaming loss in broiler chicken breasts (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Supplementation with FCMR significantly enhanced VH/CD and VH in the bird's intestine (jejunum, duodenum, and ileum) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, the addition of FCMR significantly down-regulated mRNA expression of INF-γ, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α and up-regulated mRNA expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Microbial 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing study revealed that supplements with FCMR modified the cecum microbiota, and α-diversity analysis showed that supplementation with FCMR reduced the cecum bacterial abundance in broilers (<i>P</i> < 0.05). At the phylum level, the relative abundance of <i>Spirochaetota</i> increased considerably following FCMR supplementation (<i>P</i> < 0.05). The broiler cecum's close lot of <i>Prevotellaceae_UCG-001</i> (<i>P</i> < 0.05), <i>Desulfovibrio, Muribaculaceae</i>, and <i>Fusobacterium</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05) reduced when FCMR was supplemented. Supplementation with FCMR can promote growth capacity and maintain intestinal health in birds by enhancing gut barrier function and modulating the inflammatory response and microbial composition.