Gut microbiota composition and dietary interventions modulate abdominal fat deposition in poultry: Mechanisms and...

Excessive abdominal fat deposition (AFD) in poultry reduces meat yield and efficiency. The gut microbiota regulates AFD through shifts in microbial composition and the production of metabolites. Reduced microbial diversity and fat-promoting taxa (e.g., Methanobrevibacter, Escherichia-Shigella) elevate AFD, while lean-linked bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides, Oscillospira) promote leanness. Dietary interventions, including botanical ingredients (e.g., honeycomb flavonoids elevating short-chain fatty acid producers), fermented feeds (e.g., cottonseed meal enriching butyrogenic taxa), probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus johnsonii downregulating PPARγ/FAS), and additives (bile acids activating FXR/PPARα), modulate gut microbiota to reduce AFD by enhancing barrier function, suppressing pathogens, and regulating lipid metabolism. Fecal microbiota transplantation confirms microbiota-driven AFD reduction but faces donor-matching challenges. Breed-specific microbial signatures and context-dependent outcomes inform precision strategies to improve feed efficiency and lean yield.