New issues and science in broiler chicken intestinal health: Emerging technology and alternative interventions

Intestinal health is important for maximizing the health, welfare, and performance of poultry. Traditionally, due to lack of available technologies, our knowledge of the diversity of microbial communities within the chicken intestine had been oversimplified. Recent progress in technology suitable for microbial community analysis has evolved our understanding. New molecular technologies allow for a detailed molecular and physiological assessment, including quantification of individual microbial species and their metabolites. One area of research has assessed the microbial shifts that occur in response to supplementation of broiler diets with alternative products intended to promote broiler intestinal health. As a result of consumer awareness and the development of antibiotic resistant organisms, there is increasing social pressure for use of nonantibiotic products to promote broiler health, including: prebiotics, probiotics, organic acids, essential oils, enzymes, and volatile fatty acids, among others. Molecular technologies can be utilized to help advance our understanding of the mechanism of action of these alternative products by evaluating the changes in the intestinal microbiome and immune function following supplementation with these novel products. Advancing the selection of these products for practical application in the broiler industry is necessary to promote broiler chicken intestinal health, minimize public health risks, and maximize broiler production in the absence of antibiotics.