There is increasing evidence of a pivotal role of the gut microbiota (GUT-M) in key physiological functions in vertebrates. Many studies discuss functional implications of the GUT-M not only on immunity, growth, metabolism, but also on brain development and behavior. However, while the influence of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) on behavior is documented in rodents and humans, data on farm animals are scarce. This review will first report the well-known influence of the MGBA on behavior in rodent and human and then describe its influence on emotion, memory, social and feeding behaviors in farm animals. This corpus of experiments suggests that a better understanding of the effects of the MGBA on behavior could have large implications in various fields of animal production. Specifically, animal welfare and health could be improved by selection, nutrition and management processes that take into account the role of the GUT-M in behavior.

INRA CNRS IFCE Université de Tours UMR 85 Centre Val de Loire 37380 Nouzilly France

ISP INRA Université de Tours UMR 1282 Centre Val de Loire 37380 Nouzilly France

ITAVI 41 rue Beaucemaine 22440 Ploufragan France

University of Bern Center for Proper Housing Poultry and Rabbits CH 3052 Zollikofen Switzerland

University of Oxford Department of Zoology OX1 3PS Oxford United Kingdom

Veterinary Research Institute Brno 62100 Czech Republic

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Are there consistent effects of gut microbiota composition on performance, productivity and condition in poultry?

Systematic Culturomics Shows that Half of Chicken Caecal Microbiota Members can be Grown in Vitro Except for Two Lineages of Clostridiales and a Single Lineage of Bacteroidetes