Enhancing Growth and Gut Health in Squabs: The Impact of Fermented Mixed Feed.

Simple Summary: Rapeseed meal, soybean meal, and corn bran are significant sources of protein that could serve as alternatives to conventional protein sources in poultry production. Nonetheless, their utilization in pigeon production is limited by the presence of anti-nutritional factors in these plant materials, as well as the feeding preferences of pigeons, which tend to favor raw grains of corn, soybean, and pea. The microbial fermentation of feed breaks down anti-nutritional substances, and has attracted the attention of poultry producers due to its beneficial effects on growth performance and gut function. In this study, we treated pigeons with fermented mixed feed (soybean meal–rapeseed meal–corn bran (6:3:1, m/m/m)) to improve the growth performance and gut health of squabs. Our results found that the fermented mixed feed promoted the growth performance of squabs, enhanced their intestinal morphology, increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, and decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria. Furthermore, the squabs' metabolites were also influenced by the addition of the fermented feed. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of using fermented feed in pigeon farming. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fermented mixed feed (FMF) (soybean meal–rapeseed meal–corn bran (6:3:1, m/m/m)) on the growth performance, intestinal microbial communities, and metabolomes of squabs. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old squabs were randomly allocated to two groups, each containing six replicates of fifteen squabs cared for by 60 pairs of breeding pigeons secreting crop milk. Each pair of breeding pigeons cared for three squabs. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the experimental group was fed the basal diet containing 5% FMF. The results showed that daily weight gain, carcass weight, villus height, and the mRNA level of ZO-1 in the ileum were increased in the birds fed FMF compared to the control squabs (p < 0.05). Greater abundances of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Bacillus as well as fewer harmful bacteria (i.e., Enterococcus, Veillonella, and Corynebacterium) in the ilea of squabs fed FMF. Six differential metabolites were identified in the FMF-treated squabs; one metabolite was increased (ω-salicoyisalicin) and five were decreased (3-benzoyloxy-6-oxo-12-ursen-28-oic acid, estradiol-17-phenylpropionate, aminotriazole, phosphatidyl ethanolamine (22:6/0:0), and 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphoinositol). Positive correlations were observed between the abundance of Lactobacillus and villus height. Overall, FMF treatment improved both growth and intestinal health in pigeons, suggesting potential benefits for pigeon production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]