Core Microbiota in Laying Hens

Background The gastrointestinal tract of chickens harbors a diverse and complex microflora, which plays crucial roles in host digestion, pathogen suppression, and modulation of the gut-associated immune system. However, most of the current research on the development of chicken intestinal microbiota focuses on broilers, with limited studies on laying hens and even fewer on the core flora of laying hens. Results This study aimed to analyze the composition and function of the core flora in the cecum of laying hens using OPERA-MS and MetaBAT2, second- and third-generation sequencing hybrid assembly software.The findings revealed that the core flora in the cecum of laying hens mainly comprised intrinsic bacteria and bacillus-like bacteria, with predominant bacterial families including Lachnospiraceae and Ruminaceae. Additionally, this study examined the types and characteristics of antibiotic resistance genes, mobile genetic elements, population sensing, and structural changes carried by cecum microorganisms in laying hens. Conclusions Our findings further contribute to the understanding of the characteristics and functions of cecum microorganisms in laying hens and provide a theoretical foundation for enhancing the productive performance of laying hens and reducing greenhouse gas and odor emissions.