Enterococcus faecium Modulates the Gut Microbiota of Broilers and Enhances Phosphorus Absorption and Utilization

Modern broiler chickens have ongoing bone health problems. Phosphorus (P) plays an important role in bone development and increased understanding of P metabolism should improve the skeletal health of broilers. has been widely used as a probiotic in broiler production and is shown to improve skeletal health of rats, but its effect on the bones of broilers remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of on P absorption and utilization in broilers and the associated changes in the gut microbiota using 16S rDNA sequencing. Dietary supplementation with improved P absorption through upregulation of the expression of intestinal mRNA and increased the concentration of serum alkaline phosphatase. These actions increased P retention and bone mineralization in -treated broilers. The positive effects of on P metabolism were associated with changes in the populations of the intestinal microbiota. There was increased relative abundance of the following genera, , , and and a decrease in the relative abundance of and . Dietary supplementation with changed gut microbiota populations of broilers, increased the relative abundance of SCFA (short-chain fatty acid)-producing bacteria, improved intestinal P absorption and bone forming metabolic activities, and decreased P excretion. facilitates increased utilisation of P in broilers.