scholarly journals 414 The influence of trace mineral source on fiber digestion, rumen fermentation characteristics, and mineral solubility in beef cattle fed a low-quality forage diet

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 167-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio Guimaraes ◽  
Sam Jalali ◽  
John Wagner ◽  
Jerry Spears ◽  
Terry Engle
Keyword(s):  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Trace Mineral ◽  
Mineral Solubility ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Mineral Concentrations ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Twelve Angus steers (BW 452.8 ±21.8 kg) fitted with ruminal cannulae were used to determine the impact of trace mineral source on neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and ruminal solubility of Cu, Mn, and Zn. Steers were fed a low-quality grass hay diet (10.8% CP, 63.1% NDF, 6.9 mg Cu/kg, 65.5 mg Mn/kg, and 39.4 mg Zn/kg) supplemented with protein for 21 d. Treatments consisted of 20, 40, and 60 mg supplemental Cu, Mn, and Zn/kg DM, respectively from either sulfate (STM) or hydroxy (HTM) sources (n = 6 steers/treatment). Following a 21-d adaptation period total fecal output was collected for 5 d. Dry matter digestibility tended (P < 0.07) to be reduced (51.9 vs. 53.4 ±0.52%) and NDF digestibility was reduced (P < 0.04; 40.4 vs. 42.7 ±0.67%) in STM vs. HTM steers. On d 6, rumen fluid was collected at 0, 2, and 4h post feeding. Steers receiving HTM had lesser (P < 0.02) butyric acid and greater (P < 0.05) total SCFA than STM steers. Steers were then fed the same grass hay diet without supplemental Cu, Zn, or Mn for 14 d. On d 15 steers received a pulse dose of 20, 40, and 60 mg Cu, Mn, and Zn/kg DM, respectively from either STM or HTM. Ruminal samples were obtained at 2h intervals starting at -4 and ending at 24h relative to dosing. Ruminal soluble mineral concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) for Cu at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14h; for Mn at 4 and 6h; and for Zn at 4, 6, and 8h post dosing in STM compared to HTM steers. Results indicate that ruminal solubility of Cu, Mn, and Zn differs between STM and HTM sources and rumen Cu, Mn, and Zn solubility may impact ruminal fermentation.

scholarly journals Trace mineral source impacts rumen trace mineral metabolism and fiber digestion in steers fed a medium-quality grass hay diet

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio Guimaraes ◽  
Sam Jalali ◽  
John J Wagner ◽  
Jerry W Spears ◽  
Terry Eugene Engle
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Metabolism ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Trace Mineral ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Medium Quality ◽  
Mineral Concentrations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cu And Zn

Abstract Twelve Angus steers (BW 452.8 ± 6.1 kg) fitted with ruminal cannulae were used to determine the impact of trace mineral (TM) source on digestibility, ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) composition, ruminal soluble concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Mn, and relative binding strength of trace minerals located in the rumen insoluble digesta fraction. Steers were fed a medium-quality grass hay diet (DM basis: 10.8% CP, 63.1% neutral detergent fiber [NDF], 6.9 mg Cu/kg, 65.5 mg Mn/kg, and 39.4 mg Zn/kg) supplemented with protein for 21 d. Treatments consisted of either sulfate (STM) or hydroxy (HTM) sources (n = 6 steers/treatment) to provide 20, 40, and 60 mg supplemental Cu, Mn, and Zn/kg DM, respectively. Following a 21-d adaptation period, total fecal output was collected for 5 d. Dry matter (P < 0.07) and CP (P < 0.06) digestibility tended to be reduced, and NDF (P < 0.04) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P < 0.05) digestibility were reduced in STM- vs. HTM-supplemented steers. On day 6, ruminal fluid was collected at 0, 2, and 4 h post-feeding and analyzed for VFA. There were no treatment x time interactions for VFA. Steers receiving HTM had less (P < 0.02) molar proportions of butyric acid and greater (P < 0.05) total VFA concentrations than STM-supplemented steers. Steers were then fed the same diet without supplemental Cu, Zn, or Mn for 14 d. On day 15 steers received a pulse dose of 20 mg Cu, 40 mg Mn, and 60 mg Zn/kg DM from either STM or HTM (n = 6 steers/treatment). Ruminal samples were obtained at 2-h intervals starting at −4 and ending at 24 h relative to dosing. There was a treatment x time interaction (P < 0.03) for ruminal soluble Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations. Ruminal soluble mineral concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) for Cu at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 h; for Mn at 4 and 6 h; and for Zn at 4, 6, and 8 h post-dosing in STM compared with HTM-supplemented steers. Copper concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) at 12 and 24 h and Zn concentrations in ruminal solid digesta were greater at 24 h in HTM-supplemented steers. Upon dialysis against Tris-EDTA, the percent Zn released from digesta was greater (P < 0.05) at 12 h (P < 0.03) and 24 h (P < 0.05), and the percent Cu released was greater (P < 0.02) at 24 h post-dosing in HTM steers when compared with STM-supplemented steers. Results indicate that Cu and Zn from HTM have low solubility in the rumen and appear to be less tightly bound to ruminal solid digesta than Cu and Zn from STM. The lower ruminal soluble concentrations of Cu and Zn in steers given HTM were associated with greater fiber digestibility.

scholarly journals 226 Influence of trace mineral source on digestion, ruminal volatile fatty acid and soluble mineral on steers fed a dairy type diet balanced to meet requirements for a high producing lactating dairy cow

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 133-134
Author(s):  
Octavio Guimaraes ◽  
John Wagner ◽  
Jerry Spears ◽  
Terry Engle
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Trace Mineral ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Fiber Digestion ◽  
Post Feeding ◽  
Pulse Dose ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cu And Zn

Abstract Twelve Angus steers (BW 530.9 ± 22.7kg) fitted with ruminal cannulae were used to determine the impact of trace mineral source on digestibility, ruminal VFA, and soluble concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Mn. Steers were fed a dairy type diet balanced to meet requirements for a high producing lactating dairy cow (DM basis: 16.8% CP, 29.2 Mcal NEm, 30.3 Mcal NEl, 33.6% NDF) for 21 d. Treatments consisted of 10 mg Cu, 40 mg Mn, and 60 mg Zn/kg DM from either sulfate (STM), hydroxy (HTM; IntelliBond) or organic (ORG; metal specific amino acid complexes) sources (n=4 steers/treatment). Following a 21-d adaptation period, total fecal output was collected for 5 d. On d 6, rumen fluid was collected at 0, 2, and 4 h post feeding and analyzed for VFA. Steers were then fed the same diet without supplemental Cu, Zn, or Mn for 14 d. On d 15 steers received a pulse dose (cannulae) of 100 mg Cu, 400 mg Mn, and 60 mg Zn from either STM, HTM, or ORG. Ruminal samples were obtained at 2-h intervals starting at -4 and ending at 24 h post dosing and analyzed for soluble Cu, Mn, and Zn. Digestibility of NDF and ADF were lesser (P < 0.05) in STM vs. HTM and ORG supplemented steers. Steers receiving HTM and ORG had greater (P < 0.05) total VFA concentrations than STM supplemented steers at 2 and 4h post feeding. Ruminal soluble Cu and Zn concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) post dosing in STM and ORG supplemented steers at 2, 4, and 6 h for Cu and 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 h for Zn when compared to HTM supplemented steers. Results indicate that ruminal solubility of Cu and Zn differs between STM, HTM and ORG sources and trace mineral source impacts fiber digestion and ruminal VFA concentrations.

scholarly journals Effects of Wormwood (Artemisia montana) Essential Oils on Digestibility, Fermentation Indices, and Microbial Diversity in the Rumen

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1605
Author(s):  
Seong Shin Lee ◽  
Dong Hyeon Kim ◽  
Dimas Hand Vidya Paradhipta ◽  
Hyuk Jun Lee ◽  
Hee Yoon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acid ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Different Doses ◽  
Better Than

This study investigated the effects of essential oil (EO) from three Korean wormwood (Artemisia Montana) plants on in vitro ruminal digestibility, fermentation, and microbial diversity. Dried (0.5 g) soybean meal (SBM) or bermudagrass hay (BGH) were incubated in buffered rumen fluid (40 mL) for 72 h with or without EO (5 mg/kg) from Ganghwa (GA), Injin (IN), or San (SA) wormwood (Experiment 1). Both SA and IN improved (p < 0.05) dry matter digestibility (DMD) of BGH, while GA reduced (p < 0.05) total short-chain fatty acid of BGH and SBM. Besides, SA increased (p < 0.05) numbers of Ruminococcus albus and Streptococcus bovis in SBM. Experiment 2 examined different doses (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg) of SA, the most promising EO from Experiment 1. Applying SA at 10 mg/kg gave the highest DMD (L; p < 0.01) and neutral detergent fiber (Q; p < 0.05) digestibility for BGH. Applying SA at 1 mg/kg gave the highest R. albus population (Q; p < 0.05) in SBM. Therefore, SA was better than GA and IN at improving rumen fermentation, and the 0.1 to 1 and 10 mg/kg doses improved ruminal fermentation and in vitro digestibility of SBM and BGH, respectively.

scholarly journals PSVII-10 Evaluation of different biochar sources added at two inclusion levels in a grass hay- based diet on dry matter disappearance and ruminal fermentation parameters in vitro

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 296-296
Author(s):  
Genet Mengistu ◽  
Tim A McAllister ◽  
Kim Ominski ◽  
Gabriel O Ribeiro ◽  
Erasmus Okine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Buffer Solution ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Inclusion Level ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This study evaluated the impact of adding biochar to a grass hay-based diet on in vitro dry matter disappearance (DMD), total gas production (GP), methane production (CH4), volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration. Treatments were arranged in a factorial design with 7 biochar products differing in origin (pine or coconut-based) and physical properties (course, fine or loose spheres) at 2 inclusion levels (2.25% and 4.5% of DM) and a grass hay-only control. On each three successive weeks, rumen fluid was collected from 2 ruminally cannulated beef heifers fed a grass hay-based diet, pooled and mixed with a buffer solution (1:2) and treatments incubated in triplicate for 48 h. Gas pressure was recorded at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 h of incubation, and gas was collected at each time to measure CH4. At 48 h, pH was measured and the supernatant sampled for determination of VFA and NH3-N, while the residue was used to estimate DMD. Dry matter disappearance decreased (P &lt; 0.05) with increasing addition of biochar. Biochar did not affect GP or CH4, but did reduce (P &lt; 0.05) gas production per g of DM incubated (111.7 vs 107.8 ml/g), but not per g DMD. The lower GP per g DM incubated could be related to the increased proportion of the diet as biochar, without it contributing to GP. Biochar, irrespective of level did not affect the total or molar proportions of VFA. There was a biochar x inclusion level interaction (P &lt; 0.04) in NH3-N concentration. Biochar type and inclusion level in the present study had little or no significant effect on in vitro fermentation and did not mitigate CH4 production from a grass hay-based diet.

scholarly journals The influence of xylanase on the fermentability, digestibility, and physiochemical properties of insoluble corn-based fiber along the gastrointestinal tract of growing pigs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L Petry ◽  
Nichole F Huntley ◽  
Michael R Bedford ◽  
John F Patience
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
High Fiber ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
Digesta Viscosity ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In theory, supplementing xylanase in corn-based swine diets should improve nutrient and energy digestibility and fiber fermentability, but its efficacy is inconsistent. The experimental objective was to investigate the impact of xylanase on energy and nutrient digestibility, digesta viscosity, and fermentation when pigs are fed a diet high in insoluble fiber (&gt;20% neutral detergent fiber; NDF) and given a 46-d dietary adaptation period. Three replicates of 20 growing gilts were blocked by initial body weight, individually housed, and assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: a low-fiber control (LF) with 7.5% NDF, a 30% corn bran high-fiber control (HF; 21.9% NDF), HF+100 mg xylanase/kg [HF+XY, (Econase XT 25P; AB Vista, Marlborough, UK)] providing 16,000 birch xylan units/kg; and HF+50 mg arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide (AXOS) product/kg [HF+AX, (XOS 35A; Shandong Longlive Biotechnology, Shandong, China)] providing AXOS with 3-7 degrees of polymerization. Gilts were allowed ad libitum access to fed for 36-d. On d 36, pigs were housed in metabolism crates for a 10-d period, limit fed, and feces were collected. On d 46, pigs were euthanized and ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta were collected. Data were analyzed as a linear mixed model with block and replication as random effects, and treatment as a fixed effect. Compared with LF, HF reduced the apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent cecal digestibility (ACED), apparent colonic digestibility (ACOD), and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), NDF, and hemicellulose (P&lt;0.01). Relative to HF, HF+XY improved the AID of GE, CP, and NDF (P&lt;0.05), and improved the ACED, ACOD, and ATTD of DM, GE, CP, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose (P&lt;0.05). Among treatments, pigs fed HF had increased hindgut DM disappearance (P=0.031). Relative to HF, HF+XY improved cecal disappearance of DM (162 vs. 98g; P=0.008) and NDF (44 vs. 13g; P&lt;0.01). Pigs fed xylanase had a greater proportion of acetate in cecal digesta and butyrate in colonic digesta among treatments (P&lt;0.05). Compared with LF, HF increased ileal, cecal, and colonic viscosity, but HF+XY decreased ileal viscosity compared with HF (P&lt;0.001). In conclusion, increased insoluble corn-based fiber decreases digestibility, reduces cecal fermentation, and increases digesta viscosity, but supplementing xylanase partially mitigated that effect.

scholarly journals Comparative Effects of Stovers of Four Varieties of Common Vetch on Growth Performance, Ruminal Fermentation, and Nutrient Digestibility of Growing Lambs

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 596
Author(s):  
Yafeng Huang ◽  
Cory Matthew ◽  
Fei Li ◽  
Zhibiao Nan
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Common Vetch ◽  
Alfalfa Hay

This study evaluated common vetch stover as a feed in mixed rations for growing lambs. Four common vetch varieties were compared with alfalfa (control) for their effects on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen retention. Male Hu lambs (n = 50) aged 3 months, with a mean body weight of 17.5 ± 0.34 kg were allocated randomly to one of the five dietary treatments, making 10 lambs per treatment. The experiment lasted 67 days with a 10-day adaptation period and a 50-day fattening period, and with the final 7 days used for a nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance trial. All diets contained 30.0% maize straw and 50.0% concentrate, with different forage sources (on a fed basis): 20.0% alfalfa hay (control), 20.0% local common vetch variety 333A (C333A) stover, or 20.0% stover of one of three improved common vetch varieties: Lanjian No. 1 (CLJ1), Lanjian No. 2 (CLJ2), or Lanjian No. 3 (CLJ3). For stover quality, CLJ1 stover had the greatest crude protein (CP), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and metabolizable energy (ME) content and the least cell wall contents, while C333A stover had the least CP, IVOMD, and ME contents and the greatest cell wall contents. Sheep fed the control diet had a greater average daily gain (ADG), apparent digestibility of organic matter (DOM), neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and nitrogen retention, and greater ruminal total volatile fatty acids concentration than lambs fed the C333A or CLJ3 diet, but similar performance to lambs fed the CLJ1 and CLJ2 diets. The feed conversion ratio and predicted CH4 emission per unit of DOM intake and ADG of the control, CLJ1, and CLJ2 diets was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than for the other diets. Based on these results, stovers of varieties CLJ1 and CLJ2 can be recommended as an alternative to alfalfa hay and for use in a legume crop rotation with cereals on the Tibetan plateau.

scholarly journals Nutritional diversity of Brachiaria ruziziensis clones

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen de Almeida Moreira ◽  
Shirley Motta de Souza ◽  
Alexandre Lima Ferreira ◽  
Thierry Ribeiro Tomich ◽  
José Augusto Gomes Azevêdo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Degradation Rate ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Brachiaria Ruziziensis ◽  
Hierarchical Grouping ◽  
Degradation Rates ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Lower Contribution

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional diversity of Brachiaria ruziziensis clones through chemical composition and in vitro kinetics of ruminal fermentation. Twenty three clones of Brachiaria ruziziensis were used (15, 16, 46, 174, 411, 590, 651, 670, 768, 776, 844, 859, 950, 965, 970, 975, 1067, 1093, 1296, 1765, 1806, 1894 and 1972) and Brachiaria ruziziensis cv. ‘Kennedy’, Brachiaria brizantha cv. ‘Marandu’ and Brachiaria decumbens cv. ‘Basilisk’ as controls within 27 days of harvesting. The experimental design used randomized blocks with 26 treatments (genotypes) and three replications. Evaluation of the nutritional divergence was performed using principal components analysis, based on the following discriminatory variables: in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), lignin, crude protein (CP), degradation rate of non-fibrous carbohydrates (KdNFC) and degradation rate of fibrous carbohydrates (KdFC). The evaluation of the nutritional diversity of Brachiaria genotypes was based on the two main components (IVDMD and NDF), which explains 96.2% of the total variance Variables of lower contribution to the discrimination of the clones were as degradation rates of the fibrous and non-fibrous carbohydrates. In the agglomerative hierarchical grouping analysis, five distinct groups were identified, where V group, formed by clones 46, 768 and 1067 have higher values of IVDMD compared to the other clones.

scholarly journals Dehydration curve, gas exchange, and nutritional value of Bermuda grass hay under different conditions of storage

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1965
Author(s):  
Ivaldir William Junior Machado ◽  
Marcela Abbado Neres ◽  
Deise Dalazen Castagnara ◽  
Caroline Daiane Nath ◽  
Tatiana Garcia Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Bermuda Grass ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Storage Times ◽  
And Storage

The aim of this study was to characterize the dehydration curve and, gas exchange of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) as well as the nutritional value of hay under different conditions of storage. The dehydration curve was evaluated at 7 time point (0, 13, 18, 22, 37, 42, and 44 hours after cutting) until baling, using five replicates. The time 0 (zero) corresponded to the time before cutting, performed at 19:00 hours. The design was completely randomized with measures repeated over time. Gas exchanges was evaluated 0, 14, and 18 hours after cutting, using 10 replicates. The nutritional value of cowpea hay was evaluated in two open and closed environments (SO and CS), three storage times (30, 60, and 90 days), and five replications. Dehydration of hay was carried out for 44 hours, rapid rates of dehydration was observed in the leaves. Gas exchange was more intense before cutting and up to 14 hours after cutting. Crude protein (CP) content was higher at the time of cutting and decrease after storage. The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content showed no variation between the sampling time and storage systems evaluated. Bermuda grass hay presents rapid dehydration and undergoes changes in the bromatological composition with storage time. Internal temperature of the hay bale did not exceed the ambient temperature.

The effect of host diet on the cumulative gas production profile of grass hay and high temperature dried grass

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 224-226
Author(s):  
J. A. Huntingtont ◽  
D. I. Givens
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Data Logger ◽  
Indirect Measure ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Host Diet

The gas production (GP) technique (e.g. Theodorou et al., 1994; Cone, 1994) is increasingly used as an indirect measure of substrate fermentability in the rumen. However, there are few data concerning the effect of making changes to the various integral steps of the GP procedure. This experiment was designed to study the effect of the host diet on the gas production profiles of grass hay and high temperature dried grass (HTDG).Two cows were given either a silage:barley diet (80:20 dry-matter (DM) basis) or barley straw (ad libitum). Four experimental periods with an adaptation period of 3 weeks were used so that each animal experienced each diet type twice. Rumen fluid and solids were collected at the end of each 3-week period, prepared and used to inoculate the cultures. Duplicate samples (milled, 1-mm screen) of either hay or HTDG were accurately weighed (̴ 0-5 g DM) into 250 ml bottles, 85 ml anaerobic buffer (as Theodorou et al., 1994) were then dispensed into each bottle before being connected to the automated GP data logger (as Cone, 1994). After 16 h bottles were inoculated with rumen fluid (15 ml) according to the experimental design and incubated at 39°C for 48 h. The GP data were fitted to the model suggested by France et al. (1993). A representative sample (8 ml) of final culture fluid was preserved with 1 mol/1 orthophosphoric acid (2 ml) and stored frozen (-20°C) to await analysis for volatile fatty acids.

scholarly journals The Horse Gut Microbiome Responds in a Highly Individualized Manner to Forage Lignification

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Gomez ◽  
Ashok Kumar Sharma ◽  
Amanda Grev ◽  
Craig Sheaffer ◽  
Krishona Martinson
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Fecal Microbiome ◽  
Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Acid Detergent Lignin ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Although contributions of the equine gut microbiome to forage utilization are well recognized, the impact of alfalfa lignification on the equine gut microbiome remains unknown. Here, we characterized microbial community dynamics in the equine distal gut when feeding reduced lignin (RL) and reference alfalfa hays (CON-control) ( Medicago sativa L.) to adult stock-type horses. Hay from RL and CON cultivars were similar in crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and equine digestible energy, but differed in acid detergent lignin content (RL:74 g kg -1 vs. CON: 81 g kg -1 ). Dietary treatments were fed to six horses in a crossover study. Experimental periods consisted of a 9-d dietary adaptation phase followed by a 5-d total fecal collection phase, during which horses were housed in individual box stalls and manure was removed on a continuous 24-h basis. At 12-h intervals, feces were thoroughly mixed, frozen, and used for bacterial community composition analyses via V4, 16S rRNA amplicon MiSeq sequencing.Results: RL alfalfa did not result in specific fecal microbiome composition across all horses. However, upon incorporating individual horse in the model, it was shown that the microbiome of each subject did respond to hay lignin content in an individualized manner over time, in terms of alpha and beta diversity. Closer inspection of specific taxonomic changes upon feeding the two diets also revealed horse-specific trends, with unique amplicon sequence variants classified as Akkermansia , Fibrobacter succinogenes , Treponema, and Paludibacter fluctuating significantly in abundance when RL alfalfa was fed, depending on horse. Along these lines, horse-specific associations between individual gut microbiome traits and characteristics of the digested CON or RL alfalfa were observed, mainly in regards to dry matter digestibility and mean feed particle size.Conclusions: These results indicate that the horse gut microbiome responds in an individualized manner to small changes in the amount of acid detergent lignin in alfalfa hay, potentially impacting several feed digestibility characteristics. The implications of horse-specific responses to forage quality in regards to metabolic health and performance remain to be elucidated.

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