Differential analysis of gut microbiota and effect of dietary Enterococcus Faecium supplementation in broiler breeders with high or low laying performance

ABSTRACT The difference in microbiota were examined for breeders with different egg laying rate and the impact of dietary Enterococcus faecium were also determined in current study. A total of 256 AA broiler breeders (48-wk-old) were used in a 2 by 2 factorial design which encompassed 2 egg laying rate levels [average (AP, 80.45% ± 0.91%) and low (LP, 70.61% ± 1.16%)] and 2 different dietary groups [control (no additive), 6 × 108 CFU/kg Enterococcus faecium (EF)]. The results showed that the AP breeders presented lower egg weight, FCR, abdominal fat rate, and serum leptin level (P(laying) ≤ 0.05) as well as higher egg laying rate (P(laying)