Xylanase Supplement Enhances the Growth Performance of Broiler by Modulating Serum Metabolism, Intestinal Health, Short-Chain Fatty Acid Composition, and Microbiota

Simple Summary There has been increased cost pressure with the escalating prices of maize, and as such, wheat has gained attention as a potential alternative in animal husbandry. Wheat within non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) with anti-nutritional components is worth our attention. Xylanase, as one of the non-starch polysaccharide enzymes, induces a positive influence on the growth performance, intestinal health, and microbiota of broilers. Feeding them a wheat-based diet with xylanase increased the activities of duodenal endogenous enzymes and enhanced the physical barrier of the intestines. Moreover, broilers fed xylanase through a wheat-based diet showed modulated cecal microflora; increased propionic acid produced by specific bacteria; and a changed serum metabolome, including histidine, cysteine, methionine, and other amino acid pathways. Based on the present study, xylanase supplementation is one potential high-wheat diet that could replace corn, playing an ideal role in poultry production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of xylanase supplementation in a wheat-based diet on growth performance, short-chain fatty acids, intestinal health, microbial composition, and serum metabolism. A total of 1200 male chicks were randomly assigned to four wheat-based diet treatments: Group C (adding 0 mg/kg of xylanase), Group L (adding 50 mg/kg of xylanase), Group M (adding 100 mg/kg of xylanase), and Group H (adding 150 mg/kg of xylanase). The experiment lasted for 56 days. The results indicated that Group H broilers experienced a decreased feed-to-gain ratio throughout the study period. Additionally, dietary supplementation with xylanase led to an increase in the physical barrier, as indicated by increased VH and VH/CD in the gut (p < 0.05). Furthermore, levels of D-lactic acid and endotoxin were reduced. Xylanase supplementation also increased the abundance of Muc-2, ZO-1, and Occludin (p < 0.05). Moreover, xylanase supplementation enhanced the activity of sucrase and maltase in the duodenum (p < 0.05), which may be attributable to the upregulation of the abundance of SI and MGA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, xylanase addition promoted propionic acid produced by specific bacteria, such as Phascolarctobacterium, and influenced the microbial composition to some extent, promoting intestinal health. Additionally, 150 mg/kg of xylanase supplementation increased the amino acid, peptide, and carbohydrate content and upregulated the metabolism of amino acids related to histidine, cysteine, methionine, and other pathways (p < 0.05). These findings suggest adequate xylanase supplementation can enhance nutritional digestibility and absorption, improve growth performance, stimulate endogenous enzyme activity, optimize intestinal morphology and barrier function, and positively influence acid-producing bacteria and amino acid metabolic pathways.