Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fermented mixed feed (FMF) (soybean meal-rapeseed meal-corn bran (6:3:1, m/m/m)) on the growth performance, intestinal microbial communities, and metabolomes of squabs. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old squabs were randomly allocated to two groups, each containing six replicates of fifteen squabs cared for by 60 pairs of breeding pigeons secreting crop milk. Each pair of breeding pigeons cared for three squabs. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the experimental group was fed the basal diet containing 5% FMF. The results showed that daily weight gain, carcass weight, villus height, and the mRNA level of ZO-1 in the ileum were increased in the birds fed FMF compared to the control squabs (p < 0.05). Greater abundances of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Bacillus as well as fewer harmful bacteria (i.e., Enterococcus, Veillonella, and Corynebacterium) in the ilea of squabs fed FMF. Six differential metabolites were identified in the FMF-treated squabs; one metabolite was increased (ω-salicoyisalicin) and five were decreased (3-benzoyloxy-6-oxo-12-ursen-28-oic acid, estradiol-17-phenylpropionate, aminotriazole, phosphatidyl ethanolamine (22:6/0:0), and 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphoinositol). Positive correlations were observed between the abundance of Lactobacillus and villus height. Overall, FMF treatment improved both growth and intestinal health in pigeons, suggesting potential benefits for pigeon production.