Dietary organic cranberry pomace influences multiple blood biochemical parameters and cecal microbiota in pasture-raised broiler chickens

Cranberry processing by-products/pomace can be an excellent source of functionally bioactive molecules such as polyphenolics, complex carbohydrates, fibers, and nutritive minerals. While there are currently few applications for such processing-residues in poultry nutrition, there are many potential opportunities for the development of sustainable and value-added products. The aim of the current work was to investigate the effect(s) of four consecutive weeks of cranberry pomace (CBP) feeding on blood serum metabolic profiles and the cecal microbiota of pasture-raised broiler chickens. Six hundred day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were divided into three groups: one group receiving the basal diet, and two groups each receiving the basal diet supplemented with either 1 or 2% of CBP. Blood and cecal samples were collected from the birds before, during, and after the treatment over a period of 64 days for biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis, respectively. The detailed analysis of CBP (and formulated final feed) indicated its content in essential amino- and fatty acids in addition to its richness in dietary fibers. Incorporating the pomace in feed induced a dichotomous response in broilers, with short-term improvements in blood-serum iron and cholesterol levels coupled with long-term modulation of cecal microbiota characterized by an increase in beneficial bacterial taxa (including Bifidobacterium, unclassified_Rikenellaceae, and Faecalibacterium) while decreasing the presence of undesirable ones (unclassified_Synergistaceae and Desulfovibrio, and unclassified_Fusobacteriaceae). Overall, the outcome of this study suggests the possibility of using organic CBP as a feed supplement with potential ability to positively influence blood metabolites and gut microbial community composition in pasture-raised broiler chickens.