Dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum and its ferment substance improves the egg quality and ovarian function in laying hens from 50 to 58 weeks of age

The current study was conducted to explore the effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) and fermented calcium (Ca) butyrate produced by C. butyricum on the performance and egg quality of post-peak laying. A total of 384 50-week-old hens were fed a basal diet, the basal diet with 300 mg/kg of fermented Ca butyrate or 1 x 10(9) CFU/kg C. butyricum for 8 weeks. Hens received a C. butyricum exhibited higher yolk properties, albumen height, and Haugh unit. A diet with fermented Ca butyrate or C. butyricum increased the egg mass and the pre-grade yellow follicle number. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data showed that these observations were associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and intestinal immune status. Accordingly, when compared with the basal diet group, Ca butyrate and C. butyricum addition decreased serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and increased the concentration of immunoglobulin A, along with improved intestinal barrier. In addition, dietary C. butyricum inclusion induced a higher abundance of Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae at the family level. In summary, dietary fermented Ca butyrate or C. butyricum supplementation improved egg quality and ovarian function, which might be related to the enhanced intestinal barrier and immunity in post-peak laying hens.