The through age varying microbiota composition of broiler chickens and turkeys fed with different levels of MCP and phytase

The aim of the present study was to test whether different dietary monocalcium phosphate (MCP) or phytase supplementation affect and differ the microbial composition in turkeys and broiler chickens at two different timepoints of growth. Four diets were provided, these were formulated to contain whether low or high levels of MCP and phytase. Digesta samples of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) compartments crop, ileum, caeca of 240 animals per species and timepoint (after 22 and 43 days of age) were collected and pooled by the corresponding 24 pens. Overall, the main effect for differences in the microbial composition was the species followed by the timepoint (p less than 0.05). Moreover, significant MCP effects were investigated in ileum samples for both timepoints in turkeys and at 22 days in caeca of turkeys (p less than 0.05). Significant phytase effects could be observed in caeca of turkeys and broilers individually at 43 days of age (p less than 0.05). Further correlations of additional animal data and the taxonomy data showed significant interactions of genera depending on the level of the species, age, MCP and phytase. These results suggest that broilers and turkeys underlie different metabolism mechanisms due to the same householding conditions. Further research is needed to identify the factors responsible for the changes in the microbial composition in turkeys and broilers and to evaluate the age effect in between the investigated once of the present study.