Date of Award
8-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Mireille Arguelles-Ramos
Committee Member
Dr. Ahmed Ali
Committee Member
Dr. William Bridges
Abstract
Corn is the primary grain used in animal feed, but the demand for corn is high across multiple different industries. Therefore, the poultry industry is seeking other grain types that are economical and more dependable. Grain sorghum, for example, grows well in dry conditions and has nutrients similar to corn. The grain sorghum grown in the United States does not contain tannins, which are plant compounds that can negatively affect animal growth. However, tannin- free grain sorghum contains other compounds, known as phenolic compounds, that may support health with antimicrobial properties.
Gut health is important for chickens as intestinal diseases cause major losses for poultry producers. Two of the most common diseases are coccidiosis, caused by a parasite, and necrotic enteritis, caused by bacteria. These diseases reduce growth and increase mortality in poultry. Some research suggests that these phenolic compounds may help support gut health during intestinal disease. The goal of Chapter II was to test whether tannin-free grain sorghum could reduce indicators of intestinal disease severity. The results showed that sorghum can be used as a viable alternative feed ingredient and may support intestinal health under enteric challenge conditions.
Diet can also influence the gut microbiome, or the community of bacteria living in the chicken’s gut. The chickens’ diet can affect which bacteria grow and what beneficial compounds they produce through their own metabolism. These compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids, help keep the gut lining healthy and support the immune system. To understand these effects, Chapter III investigated the gut microbiome using DNA analysis in birds exposed to a disease challenge with coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis. This helped show which microbes were present iii and what functions they may be able to perform. The results from this study found that diet can shape the cecal microbiome’s structure and predicted functional potential under challenge conditions
Recommended Citation
Estrada, Isabella, "Effects of Tannin-Free Grain Sorghum on the Performance, Intestinal Health, and Cecal Microbiome Function In Broilers Under Enteric Challenge" (2026). All Theses. 4800.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4800