Hepatic Transcriptomics of Broilers with Low and High Feed Conversion in Response to Caloric Restriction

Area of Science:

• Poultry Science
• Animal Genetics
• Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

• Feed efficiency (FE) is crucial in the poultry industry, with residual feed intake (RFI) as a key metric.
• Metabolic pathways significantly influence nutrient utilization and FE in broiler chickens.
• Feed restriction is a strategy to investigate the molecular mechanisms of feed conversion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of quantitative feed restriction on molecular pathways in the liver of broiler chickens with divergent RFI.
• To understand how feed restriction influences nutrient utilization and hepatic metabolism in relation to FE.

Main Methods:

• Cobb 500FF broiler chickens (n=112) with divergent RFI were subjected to feed restriction (92% and 80% of control levels).
• Transcriptomic analysis of liver tissue was performed to identify differentially expressed genes.
• Gene expression patterns were analyzed in relation to RFI and feeding regimen.

Main Results:

• Feed restriction reduced body weight but altered gene expression in broiler livers, affecting hepatic metabolism and cellular stress.
• Gene expression patterns suggested reduced susceptibility to blood coagulation and linked FE traits to detoxification and triacylglycerol synthesis.
• Specific genes (KNG1, FGG, FGB, MGST3, CYP2AC2, MOGAT1, LPIN1) were identified with implications for feed efficiency and health.

Conclusions:

• Divergent transcriptional profiles in broiler livers under feed restriction highlight potential for optimizing nutritional management.
• Mild feed restriction may offer health benefits for less feed-efficient broilers by modulating specific metabolic pathways.
• Understanding these molecular mechanisms can lead to improved breeding and feeding strategies in poultry production.