Effects of dietary energy and protein levels during brooding on performance, blood parameters, metabolome and gut microbiota in native chickens.

ABSTRACT: The nutrient requirements of slow-growing native chickens during the critical brooding period are not well-defined, hindering the development of precision feeding strategies. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of dietary metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) levels on growth performance, systemic metabolism, and gut health in Danzhou chickens during the brooding phase (1-35 days). A total of 540 one-day-old female Danzhou chicks were allocated to nine diets in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, with three ME levels (11.50, 12.10, 12.70 MJ/kg) and three CP levels (18%, 19%, 20%). Growth performance, serum parameters, intestinal morphology, cecal microbiota, and tissue metabolomes were comprehensively assessed. The results revealed that dietary ME level exerted a

SUBMITTER: Wang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12859507 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature