Abstract
The poultry industry plays a significant role in global meat production, with broiler chickens being crucial due to their efficient feed-to-meat conversion. The study investigated how commercial feeds and on-farm formulated feeds affected the gut microbiota composition of broiler chickens during the finisher phase at the Teaching and Research Farm of Kaduna State University in Kafanchan. One hundred and forty-four Cobb day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: T1 (Top Feeds commercial feed A), T2 (Hybrid commercial feed B), T3 (Chikun commercial feed C), and T4 (on-farm formulated feed), in a completely randomized design, with each treatment having four replicates of 12 birds each. At six weeks, samples from six different intestinal segments and cloacal swabs were collected and analyzed for microbial populations using standard microbiological techniques. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the general linear model of SAS Institute Inc. (2006), and differences between treatment means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Results showed diverse bacterial communities across all diets, with Escherichia coli present in every case. Commercial feeds supported greater diversity and higher populations of beneficial bacteria such as Bacillus spp., likely due to their nutrient composition and the inclusion of prebiotics and probioti2cs. Conversely, on-farm formulated feeds promoted higher total bacterial counts in certain gut sections, indicating a more diverse microbial environment. Significant differences (P<0.05) in key microbial counts, such as total bacterial, coliform, and enterococci counts, were observed among diets, reflecting variations in feed composition and additive content. Notably, commercial Feed C (Chikun) showed elevated enteric coliform counts, raising concerns about possible gut dysbiosis. These findings underscore the critical role of feed formulation in shaping gut microbial diversity and composition, with direct implications for nutrient absorption, immune modulation, and overall broiler performance. It is recommended that poultry producers carefully consider feed type and its additive content when targeting optimal gut health outcomes, and that future studies examine the long-term effects of feed formulation on broiler productivity under local conditions.