Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Intestinal Bacteria Cultivation for Poultry
Published on: May 10, 2024
Dietary resistant starch modifies the composition and function of caecal microbiota of broilers
Yingying Zhang1, Yingsen Liu1, Jiaolong Li1
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Origin Food Production and Safety Guarantee, Jiangsu Provincial Collaborative Innovation Centre of Meat Production and Processing, Quality and Safety Control, Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Centre of Animal Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P. R. China.
Dietary corn starch (CS) and resistant starch (RS) significantly alter broiler caecal microbiota composition and function. RS diets, particularly at higher levels, shifted microbial metabolism away from carbohydrate utilization towards amino acid metabolism, impacting gut health.
Area of Science:
- Animal Nutrition
- Microbiology
- Gut Health
Background:
- Diet composition critically influences gut microbiota in broilers.
- Starch, a primary carbohydrate source, impacts broiler gut microbial ecology.
- Investigating corn starch (CS) and resistant starch (RS) effects on broiler caecal microbiota is crucial for understanding nutrient utilization and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the impact of dietary corn starch (CS) and varying levels of resistant starch (RS) on the caecal microbiota composition and function in broilers.
- To compare the effects of CS and RS diets against a standard corn-soybean diet (NC).
- To elucidate the functional metabolic pathways influenced by different starch types in the broiler gut.
Main Methods:
- A total of 320 Arbor Acres broiler chicks were fed five diets: normal corn-soybean (NC), corn starch (CS), and 4%, 8%, 12% resistant starch (RS).
- Caecal contents were collected from 42-day-old broilers.
- Microbiota community analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Main Results:
- The CS diet altered microbial abundances, increasing Bilophila, Eggerthella, Olsenella, and Sellimonas while decreasing Akkermansia, Eisenbergiella, Oscillospira, Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group, and Synergistes.
- RS diets (8% and 12%) led to higher abundances of Anaerofilum, Bacteroides, Desulfovibrio, and Parasutterella, and lower abundances of Alistipes, Bilophila, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Eggerthella, and Ruminiclostridium 1 compared to the CS group.
- Functional predictions indicated CS diet promoted carbohydrate metabolism (glycolysis/gluconeogenesis), whereas 8% and 12% RS diets suppressed these pathways and amino acid metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Dietary CS and RS significantly modify the composition and diversity of caecal microbiota in broilers.
- These starch types modulate microbial metabolic pathways, including carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, in the broiler hindgut.
- Alterations in caecal microbiota and metabolism by dietary starch may influence nutrient utilization and overall hindgut health in broilers.
