GroPro: Enhancing the health and vitality of layer chicks
Against the backdrop of the global ban on antibiotics, the poultry industry is grappling with the challenge of upholding bird health and performance while cutting down on the use of antibiotics. GroPro, a yeast-derived protein product abundant in nucleotides and functional proteins, has been proven effective in boosting feed intake, body weight, and gut health of layer chicks during the brooding period.
GroPro, a product rich in nucleotides and proteins developed by Angel Yeast Co., Ltd., is a yeast-derived protein ingredient that has been specifically formulated to provide young animals with digestible proteins and functional nucleotides, offering support during their critical early growth stages. By supplying exogenous nucleotides to young animals, GroPro eliminates the need for the time and energy otherwise spent on nucleotide synthesis, thus fostering faster growth. The proteins in GroPro mainly exist in the form of free amino acids and small peptides, which further facilitate protein synthesis and digestion.
In this study, a total of 480 day-old Hy-Line layer chicks produced by PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia were used, with an average body weight of 38.97±9.11 g. Employing a completely randomised design, the chicks were divided into 4 treatment groups: the control group T0 (fed a basal diet without GroPro supplementation), T1 (basal diet supplemented with 2 kg/MT GroPro), T2 (basal diet supplemented with 5 kg/MT GroPro), and T3 (basal diet supplemented with 10 kg/MT GroPro). Each treatment was replicated 6 times, with 20 chicks per replicate housed in individual cages. The experiment lasted for 7 weeks, and the dietary treatments were administered from week 1 to week 7 of the chicks’ age (a treatment duration of 6 weeks).
From week 1 to week 6, the chicks were fed a commercial complete feed (Type 520) produced by PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia; this feed was switched to Type 521 complete feed from the same manufacturer in week 7. The chicks were reared in a cage system, with ad libitum access to feed and water in accordance with standard restricted feeding guidelines. The environmental temperature in the rearing facility was maintained at 34-36°C in the first week, and then gradually reduced by 2–3°C each week until it reached the target temperature of 23±1°C. The relative humidity in the rearing house was controlled between 50% and 60%.
A step-down lighting program was implemented: the initial photoperiod was set to 22–23 hours of light per day followed by a weekly reduction of 1–2 hours until it stabilised at 16 hours of light per day, which was maintained until the end of the trial. The nutrient specifications of the experimental diets are presented in Table 1.
Effect of GroPro supplementation on the performance of layer chicks
In comparison to the control group (T0), the T3 group exhibited a significant increase in the feed intake of layer chicks (p<0.01). Moreover, the final body weight and daily weight gain of the chicks in the T3 group increased by 7.29 g/bird and 5.97 g/bird, respectively.
Effects of GroPro supplementation on the intestinal physical barrier of layer chicks
When compared to the control group (T0), the number of small intestinal villi per layer chick in groups T1, T2, and T3 showed a tendency to increase. Specifically, the villus count in group T3 reached 20.5, which was higher than the 18.83 observed in the control group. In addition, the apical width, basal width, crypt depth, and villus area of the chicks’ intestines all increased significantly. These results suggest that GroPro supplementation can significantly enhance the intestinal physical barrier function of layer chicks.
Effects of GroPro supplementation on the intestinal microbial carrier of layer chicks
The control group and the group supplemented with 10 kg/MT of GroPro shared 19 families and 35 genera of microbiota. However, the treatment group supplemented with yeast (GroPro) contained 6 unique families and 10 unique genera, while no unique taxa were found in the control group. This indicates that yeast supplementation expanded the taxonomic range of the microbiota at both the family and genus levels.
Furthermore, GroPro supplementation successfully restored the diversity and structural balance of Lactobacillus species. These findings demonstrate that supplementing with 10 kg/ton of yeast (GroPro) exerts a positive remodeling effect on the gut microbiota by enhancing diversity, enriching beneficial taxa, and promoting the formation of a functional microbial network that is conducive to the growth and health of layer chicks.
Conclusion
Nucleotides act as key substrates for DNA/RNA synthesis in intestinal cells. They save the energy required for de novo synthesis, accelerate the proliferation and renewal of epithelial cells, promote villus growth and crypt deepening, and repair damaged mucosa—thereby optimizing intestinal morphology and absorptive capacity. Functional oligosaccharides adsorb and eliminate pathogenic bacteria while promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, optimizing the microbial balance in the gut. Additionally, small peptides can be efficiently absorbed and utilized by intestinal cells, playing a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the intestinal physical barrier and supporting the repair of damaged intestinal tissue.
GroPro comprehensively supports intestinal function through multiple pathways, including defense, nutrition, repair, and immune regulation, thereby enhancing the overall health and productive performance of animals. This study demonstrates that GroPro, a yeast-based ingredient rich in nucleic acids, proteins, and functional oligosaccharides, selectively improves the intestinal morphology and microbial ecology of layer chicks. Among the tested treatments, the inclusion of GroPro at a dosage of 10 kg/MT (T3) yielded the most beneficial effects.
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