ISSUE FOCUS 46 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2023 shift in the importance of the interaction between nutrition and health. Many efforts have been made to understand the importance of the gut microbiome in supporting animals’ health and performance. Stimulating good gut health with a proper functionality of the microbiome reduces the risk of dysbiosis and, eventually, inflammation. While acute inflammation is part of the normal recovery process and allows the body to fight infection locally, chronic inflammation may result in a systemic response, increase energy expenditure and impair performance or result in mortality. Although there is no ideal microbiome profile, which maximises gut health, we know that gut barrier function relies on a gut microbiome which promotes homeostasis. Commensal bacteria supply the gut with beneficial metabolites which enable gut acidification, mucus production, increase the energy supply to the epithelial cells, and support the immune system. We believe that looking into the functionality of the microbiome response to different production conditions can provide insights for producers and nutritionists to adapt management and feeding strategies. This, in turn, can increase robustness of animal populations by stimulating the integrity of the biome and potentially prevent the overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens, as well as chronic inflammation. GUT HEALTH FOR ANIMAL PRODUCERS Different biotechnologies are now available in the market and transferable to production animals to study the microbiome. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing is a common method used to analyse microbiome profile and diversity in intestinal segments of animals. Metabolomics is also used to evaluate the effect of metabolites on gut integrity, and to understand how shifting the microbiome can affect the production of these metabolites. At AB Vista, we have been testing biotechnologies and assay methods which can be transposed in commercial settings to help select nutritional strategies that support gut integrity. From sample collection to results analysis and interpretation, we have developed practical solutions which can provide enough information for in-field decision making. SAMPLING TYPE AND METHOD As a start, we have tested different sampling methods and have come to select BioFreeze vials (by Alimetrics Diagnostics) as a convenient and reliable method to be used in both research and commercial settings. While cecal content collection is commonly performed in broiler chickens, this method raises welfare issues and cannot be transposed commercially to other species such as sows, piglets, broiler breeders, turkeys, etc.
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