Duskaev GK, Deryabin DG, Vlasenko LV.

Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025. Vol. 108. No. 4. Р. 247-260.

doi:10.33284/2658-3135-108-4-247

Original article

Results of metagenomic sequencing of the intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens against the background of the introduction of phytochemicals

 

Galimzhan K Duskaev1, Dmitry G Deryabin2, Lyudmila V Vlasenko3

1,2,3Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy

of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia

1gduskaev@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9015-8367

2dgderyabin@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9578-7947

3lv.efremova@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3790-2783

 

Abstract. Phytochemicals, whose effects can be enhanced when used in combination, are a promising tool for modulating the gut microbiome of broiler chickens. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with phytochemicals (quercetin, vanillin, a combination of quercetin and vanillin, and umbelliferone) on the taxonomic profile of the cecum of Arbor Acres broiler chickens. Seven-day-old broiler chickens were divided into five groups (30 birds each): a control group and four experimental groups. The control group received only the basic diet; quercetin (10 mg/kg per day; experimental group I), vanillin (0.5 mg/kg per day; experimental group II), a combination of quercetin and vanillin (2.5 mg/kg and 0.3 mg/kg per day; experimental group III), and umbelliferone (0.3 mg/kg per day; experimental group IV) were additionally introduced into the diet of the experimental groups together with the basic diet. The experiment lasted 28 days. Taxonomic analysis of the cecal contents showed that the dominant phyla were Bacillota and Bacteroidota, the abundance of which changed in different directions when phytochemicals were introduced into the diet. The highest values ​​of the Chao1 index were calculated for the control group (263.25±7.64), and the Shannon and Simpson index – for experimental group III (4.02±0.14 and 0.98±0.04, respectively). Comparison of the beta diversity of the gut microbiome of birds also indicated changes in the composition of the microbial community under the influence of phytochemicals.

Keywords: broiler chickens, feeding, quercetin, vanillin, umbelliferone, microbiome

Acknowledgments: the work was performed in accordance to the plan of research works for 2025-2027 FSBRI FRC BST RAS (No. FNWZ-2025-0003).

For citation: Duskaev GK, Deryabin DG, Vlasenko LV. Results of metagenomic sequencing of the intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens against the background of the introduction of phytochemicals. Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025;108(4):247-260. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.33284/2658-3135-108-4-247

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Information about the authors:

Galimzhan K Duskaev, Dr. Sci. (Biology), Professor RAS, Leading Research Assistant Department of Feeding for Farm Animals and Feed Technology named after S.G. Leushin, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, 9 Yanvarya St., Orenburg, 460000.

Dmitry G Deryabin, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Leading Research Assistant, Laboratory of Breeding and Genetic Research in Animal Husbandry, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, 9 Yanvarya St., Orenburg, 460000.

Lyudmila V Vlasenko, Cand. Sci. (Biology), Researcher of the Laboratory of Breeding and Genetic Research in Animal Husbandry, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, 9 Yanvarya St., Orenburg, 460000.

The article was submitted 20.10.2025; approved after reviewing 30.10.2025; accepted for publication 15.12.2025.

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