Cecal microbiota development and physiological responses of broilers following early-life microbial inoculation using different delivery methods and microbial sources

Broilers in intensive systems may lack commensal microbes that have coevolved with chickens in nature. This study evaluated the effects of microbial inocula and delivery methods applied to day-old chicks on the development of the cecal microbiota. Specifically, chicks were inoculated with cecal contents or microbial cultures and the efficacy of three delivery methods (oral gavage, spraying inoculum into the bedding, and cohousing) was evaluated. Also, a competitive study evaluated the colonization ability of bacteria sourced from extensive or intensive poultry production systems. The findings will guide future research on the development of next-generation probiotics that are able to colonize and persist in the chicken intestinal tract after a single exposure.