{
  "abstract": "Yeast-derived β-glucan- and mannan-rich materials are used as functional feed additives, but their effects may depend on processing and composition. This study evaluated crude, fractionated, and recombined yeast polysaccharide preparations in 1008 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers assigned to eight dietary treatments for 38 d (seven pens per treatment; 18 birds per pen), with the pen as the experimental unit. Growth performance, organ weights, intestinal morphology, caecal metabolites, and microbial composition were assessed. No supplemented treatment differed from the non-supplemented control in growth performance. Compared with the crude cell wall preparation, the insoluble-type β-glucan-mannan preparation with a relatively low β-glucan level had a higher caecal propionate concentration (11.78 vs. 7.23 μmol/g; P = 0.005) and a higher jejunal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05). However, it also increased finisher and overall feed conversion ratios and decreased relative full caecum weight (all P < 0.05). This preparation was also characterised by Faecalibacterium, the Ruminococcus torques group, and Erysipelatoclostridium. The corresponding soluble-type preparation did not differ from the crude preparation for these outcomes but was characterised by Clostridium sensu stricto 1. In addition, soluble-type preparations had higher caecal butyrate concentrations than insoluble-type preparations (P = 0.002), whereas the higher β-glucan level increased relative full and empty caecum weights (both P < 0.05). Preparation-specific microbial patterns were also evident at the higher level, with Marvinbryantia characterising the soluble-type preparation and Romboutsia and Turicibacter characterising the insoluble-type preparation. Combining soluble- and insoluble-type fractions produced non-additive responses in relative ileum weight and caecal metabolites, without yielding higher metabolite concentrations than the corresponding single-fraction preparations. Overall, responses depended on processing-related preparation characteristics, β-glucan level, and component balance, with clearer effects on caecal fermentation and microbial composition than on growth performance.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, Leuven, 3001, Belgium"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yunfeng Gu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "An Bautil"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Steven Simmonds"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dries Croonen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Charlotte F. De Schepper"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kristof Brijs"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Christophe M. Courtin"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8bc3tsxrmnt4d.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.psj.2026.107975",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13718412/",
  "id": "8bc3tsxrmnt4d",
  "issns": [
    "0032-5791",
    "1525-3171"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.107975",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Full-Length Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1103|Animal Nutrition and Physiology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222803205",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13718412",
  "pmid": "42914641",
  "published": "2026-10-17",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8bc3tsxrmnt4d.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-02T12:22:26Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13718412",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.107975"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1103|Animal Nutrition and Physiology",
      "subfield": "zoology-behaviour"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Yeast β-glucan-mannan combinations in broiler diets: roles of processing and β-glucan solubility in growth performance, intestinal morphology, and caecal fermentation",
  "title_text": "Yeast β-glucan-mannan combinations in broiler diets: roles of processing and β-glucan solubility in growth performance, intestinal morphology, and caecal fermentation",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T12:22:26Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8bc3tsxrmnt4d",
  "venue": "Poultry Science",
  "versions": []
}