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High through put 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing analysis of the fecal microbiota of high FCR and low FCR broiler growers

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Abstract

The performance of birds appears to vary among the flock of growing broilers which may in part be due to variation in their gut microbiota. In the view of poultry industry, it is desirable to minimise such variation. We investigated metagenomic profile of fecal bacteria in birds with high and low feed conversion ratio (FCR) to identify microbial community linked to low and high FCR by employing high throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genomic targets. Therefore feeding trial was investigated in order to identify fecal bacteria consistently linked with better feed conversion ratio in bird performance as measured by body weight gain. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene based pyrosequencing was used to provide a comparative analysis of fecal microbial diversity. The fecal microbial community of birds was predominated by Proteobacteria (48.04 % in high FCR and 49.98 % in low FCR), Firmicutes (26.17 % in high FCR and 36.23 % in low FCR), Bacteroidetes (18.62 % in high FCR and 11.66 % in low FCR), as well as unclassified bacteria (15.77 % in high FCR and 14.29 % in low FCR), suggesting that a large portion of fecal microbiota is novel and could be involved in currently unknown functions. The most prevalent bacterial classes in high FCR and low FCR were Gammaproteobacteria, Clostridia and Bacteroidia. However in low FCR birds Phascolarctobacterium, Faecalibacterium and Clostridium predominated among the Clostridia. In FCR comparison of fecal bacteria, about 36 genera were differentially abundant between high and low FCR birds. This information could be used to formulate effective strategies to improve feed efficiency and feed formulation for optimal gut health.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Government of Gujarat, for their financial support for this study. Support provided by the Chairman, Marshall Breeders Pvt Limited, Nasik-422001, Maharashtra to conduct the study reported here is also acknowledged with respect and gratitude. Authors wish to thank Dr. A.E. Nivsarkar, Ex-Director, National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources Karnal for critical reading of the manuscript.

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  1. K. M. Singh

    Present address: Department of Genetics, ARIBAS, New V V Nagar, Anand, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Biotechnology, Anand Agriculture University, Anand, India

    K. M. Singh, T. Shah, S. J. Jakhesara, P. G. Koringa & C. G. Joshi

  2. Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Anand Agriculture University, Anand, India

    D. N. Rank

  3. Marshall Breeders Private Limited, Nasik, India

    K. M. Singh & S. Deshpande

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Correspondence to K. M. Singh or C. G. Joshi.

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Singh, K.M., Shah, T., Deshpande, S. et al. High through put 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing analysis of the fecal microbiota of high FCR and low FCR broiler growers. Mol Biol Rep 39, 10595–10602 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1947-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1947-7

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