Embryonic thermal manipulation improved early cecal microbial diversity, metabolic pathways, and immunity in broiler chickens

Gut microbiota regulates broilers' gastrointestinal functions, digestion, metabolism, and immune responses. Modulating the microbiota in the early stage could present a promising approach for the poultry industry. Embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) constitutes a promising strategy for sustainable broiler production. Our previous research has yielded significant insights into the impact of TM on embryonic thermotolerance, metabolism, post-hatch growth performance, microbial diversity, and immunity. This follow-up study utilized a subset of birds from our previous study to investigate the effects of TM on early cecal microbiota composition, metabolic pathways, and ileum immunity-related genes.