Connection of gut microbiom, gut health and productivity in chicken

Abstract

With increasing menace of antimicrobial resistance, demand for organically grown chicken is increasing and the concept of gut health is attracting huge interest among all stakeholders of chicken production system. Chicken gut microbiome plays a key role in the maintenance of gut health and productivity of host through competitive exclusion of pathogens, contribution to the development and function of host immune system and gut epithelial barrier, besides contributions to host nutrition. Recently research focus has shifted towards defining gut microbial community composition in relation to performance variables in different breeds or lines of chicken using high throughput sequencing technologies and towards development of feed additives to support development and maintenance of healthy gut. Host, diet and environment play key role in succession of gut microbial community of chicken, although some evidence suggest that some form of microbial inheritance occurs naturally from dam through the pores of the eggshell and that early interventions can influence intestinal colonization of birds with a healthy microbiota. This review compiles information about the connection of gut microbiome with gut health and performance of chicken and advances in technologies related to dietary interventions to modulate gut health in chicken favorably.