scholarly journals Garlic skin induced shifts in the rumen microbiome and metabolome of fattening sheep

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Zhu ◽  
Zhen Su ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Hanxue Sun ◽  
Jinfeng Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Garlic and its constituents exhibit activities on modifying rumen fermentation and improving growth performance. As a by-product of garlic processing, garlic skin contains similar bioactive components as garlic bulb. However, studies in ruminants using garlic skin are scarce. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of garlic skin supplementation on rumen fermentation characterizes, growth performance, ruminal microbes and metabolites in ruminants. Twelve Hu lambs were randomly assigned into one of two treatments: basal diet (CON) or basal diet supplemented with 80 g/kg DM of gallic skin (GAS). The experiment lasted for10 weeks, with the first 2 weeks for adaptation. Results The results revealed that the average daily gain and volatile fatty acid concentration were higher (P < 0.05) in lambs fed GAS than that in the control group. Garlic skin supplementation did not significantly (P > 0.10) affect the α-diversity indices. Increased (P < 0.05) abundances of Prevotella, Bulleidia, Howardella, Methanosphaera but a decreased (P < 0.05) abundance of Fretibacterium were observed in GAS-fed lambs. In addition, the garlic skin supplementation favorably regulated (P < 0.05) pyrimidine metabolism, purine metabolism, vitamin B6 and B1 metabolism. Moreover, high correlations were observed between fluctuant rumen microbiota and metabolites. Conclusions Supplementation of garlic skin improved the growth performance of sheep by modifying rumen fermentation through inducing shifts in the rumen microbiome and metabolome.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEN Zhu ◽  
Zhen Su ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Hanxue Sun ◽  
Jinfeng Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Garlic and its constituents exhibit activities on modifying rumen fermentation and improving growth performance. As a by-product of garlic processing, garlic skin contains similar bioactive components as garlic bulb. However, studies in ruminants using garlic skin are scarce. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of garlic skin supplementation on rumen fermentation characterizes, growth performance, and involved mechanism in ruminants. Twelve Hu lambs were randomly assigned into one of two treatments: basal diet (CON) or basal diet supplemented with 80 g/kg DM of gallic skin (GAS). The experiment lasted for10 weeks, with the first 2 weeks for adaptation. Results: The results revealed that the average daily gain and volatile fatty acid concentration were higher (P < 0.05) in lambs fed GAS than that in the control group. Garlic skin supplementation did not significantly (P > 0.10) affect the α-diversity indices. Increased (P < 0.05) abundances of Prevotella, Bulleidia, Howardella, Methanosphaera but a decreased (P < 0.05) abundance of Fretibacterium were observed in GAS-fed lambs. Besides, the garlic skin supplementation favorably regulated (P < 0.05) pyrimidine metabolism, purine metabolism, vitamin B6 and B1 metabolism. Moreover, high correlations were observed between fluctuant rumen microbiota and metabolites. Conclusions: Supplementation of garlic skin improved the growth performance of sheep by modifying rumen fermentation through inducing shifts in the rumen microbiome and metabolome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simin Peng ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Yuyu Wang ◽  
Tuo Lv ◽  
Haohan Zhao ◽  
...  

Given the desirable results of using probiotics and enzyme preparations as feed supplements in poultry health, here, the effects of Bacillus and Non-starch Polysaccharase (NSPase) on the growth performance, serum antioxidant profiles, and gut microbial communities of early stage ducks is investigated. A total of 400 Zhijiang ducks (of similar body weight and 1 day age) was selected and randomly divided into four groups. The feeding period was 28 days. Each group contained 10 replicates of 10 birds. Control group (I) was fed with basal diet, while treatment groups II to IV were fed, respectively, with 150 mg/kg NSPases, 25 mg/kg Bacillus probiotics, and 150 mg/kg NSPases + 25 mg/kg Bacillus probiotics in their basal diet. The results demonstrated that dietary Bacillus (25 mg/kg) increased average final weight, average daily gain (ADG), and decreased the malonaldehyde (MDA) in birds (P &lt; 0.05). Dietary Bacillus (25 mg/kg) and NSPases + Bacillus (150 mg/kg + 25 mg/kg) presented much higher glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in birds (P &lt; 0.05). Additionally, as revealed by β-diversity indices and analysis of similarities, dietary NSPases + Bacillus could affect the ileum microbial abundances and diversities at the genera level (P &lt; 0.05), but it had no effect on the caecal microbiota. Also, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that dietary Bacillus and NSPases + Bacillus increased the populations of Ruminococcaceae genera in the cecum (P &lt; 0.05), and S24-7_group and Lactobacillus genera in the ileum (P &lt; 0.05). However, dietary NSPases and Bacillus alone and in combination could significantly decrease the content of Bacteroides in the ileum (P &lt; 0.05). According to Spearman correlation analysis, 7 ilea bacterial microbiomes (S24-7 group, Lactobacillus, Subgroup 2, Subgroup 1, Kitasatospora, Candidatus Solibacter, and Akkermansia) were positively correlated with SOD (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, Bacillus (25 mg/kg) and NSPases (150 mg/kg) included in the diet could efficiently enhance the growth performance by altered gut microbiota composition at the genera level and antioxidant indices of ducks.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2428
Author(s):  
Jiao Chen ◽  
Xiaolin Niu ◽  
Fei Li ◽  
Fadi Li ◽  
Long Guo

(1) Background: we investigated the influence of dietary soybean meal (SBM) replaced with distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) plus rumen-protected (RP) lysine and methionine on the growth performance, nutrients digestion, rumen fermentation, and serum parameters of Hu sheep. (2) Methods: ninety Hu sheep were allocated to five groups: the control group (CON) which received the SBM diet, the DDGS group (NSM), the DDGS diet with RP lysine group (DRPL), the DDGS diet with RP methionine group (DRPM), and the DDGS diet with a mixture of RP lysine and methionine group (DRPLM). (3) Results: Final BW and carcass weight of the DRPLM and CON groups were greater (p ≤ 0.05) compared to NSM, DRPL, and DRPM groups. The DRPLM group tended to increase the dry matter intake (DMI, p = 0.06), average daily gain (ADG, p = 0.06), dressing percentage (p = 0.07), and tail fat weight (p = 0.09). The DRPLM group had increased (p ≤ 0.05) apparent digestibility and had altered ruminal fermentation characteristics. (4) Conclusions: replacement of SBM with DDGS in a diet with adequate metabolizable protein and by-pass amino acids (lysine and methionine) could maintain the growth performance of Hu sheep.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianju Wang ◽  
Luming Ding ◽  
Haiyan Wei ◽  
Cuixia Jiang ◽  
Qi Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The use of antibiotics as supplements in animal feed is restricted due to possible health hazards associated with them. Consequently, there is increasing interest in exploiting natural products as antibiotics with no detrimental side effects. In this study, we examined the effect of Astragalus membranaceus root (AMT) supplementation on dry matter intake, growth performance, rumen fermentation and immunity of Tibetan sheep. Materials and methods: Twenty-four male Tibetan sheep (31 ± 1.4 kg; 9 months old) were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatments with different levels of AMT: 0 g/kg, 20 g/kg, 50 g/kg and 80 g/kg dry matter (A 0 , A 2 , A 5 and A 8 , respectively) in addition to their basal diets. A 0 acted as a control group and measurements were recorded over a 56-d feeding period. Results: Sheep fed with AMT had a higher average daily gain (ADG) and a lower feed:gain ratio (F:G) than controls ( P < 0.001). Rumen concentrations of NH 3 -N ( P < 0.001), total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) ( P = 0.028), acetate ( P = 0.017) and propionate ( P = 0.031) in A 5 and A 8 were higher than in A 0 . The addition of AMT in the feed significantly increased serum antioxidant and immunity factors of the sheep and increased the concentrations of serum interleukin, immunoglobulin and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) ( P = 0.010). Conclusions: We concluded that AMT can be used as a feed additive to improve growth performance and rumen fermentation and enhance the immunity of Tibetan sheep. Some responses exhibited a dose-dependent response, whereas other did not exhibit a pattern, with an increase in AMT. The addition of 50 g/kg and 80 g/kg AMT of total DMI showed the most promising results.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1394
Author(s):  
Jianyong Zhou ◽  
Jingyi Yao ◽  
Luhong Bai ◽  
Chuansong Sun ◽  
Jianjun Lu

EGF has been shown to stimulate the growth of animals. In this study, the content of EGF in chicken embryos (gallus EGF, gEGF) aged from 1 to 20 days of incubation were determined by ELISA kit, and the 5-day-old chicken embryos with the highest content of 5593 pg/g were selected to make gEGF crude extracts. A total of 1500 1-day-old Xianju chickens were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates of 50 chickens each. The control group was fed a basal diet, and other treatment diets were supplemented with 4, 8, 16 and 32 ng/kg gEGF crude extract, respectively. The experiment lasted for 30 days. Chicks were harvested at the end of the experiment, and liver, spleen, thymus, bursa and serum samples were collected. Results showed that average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of 16 ng/kg group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The serum uric acid (UA) of the 16 ng/kg group was reduced (p < 0.01), and the serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) of the 16 ng/kg group increased (p < 0.01). The gEGF extract also increased chick’s antioxidant capacity, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased catalase (CAT) in the liver and serum of 16 ng/kg groups in compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Furthermore, immunity was improved by the addition of gEGF to broiler diets. The serum immunoglobin A (IgA) content of 8 and 16 ng/kg groups and the serum immunoglobin M (IgM) content of 4 and 8 ng/kg groups were increased (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. The bursa index of each experimental group was higher than the control group (p < 0.01). These findings demonstrate that the crude extract of gEGF prepared in this experiment could improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immunity of broilers.


PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Yuan ◽  
Wanli Li ◽  
Qianqian Huo ◽  
Chenhong Du ◽  
Zhixiang Wang ◽  
...  

This study investigated the effects of xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) and flavomycin (FLA) on the performance and immune function of broiler chickens. A total of 150 ArborAcres broilers were randomly divided into three groups and fed for six weeks from one day of age in cascade cages. The diets of each test group were (1) a basal diet, (2) the basal diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg FLA, and (3) the basal diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg XOS. At 21 and 42 days, the growth performance index values and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in the cecum were quantified. Furthermore, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and plasma interleukin 2 (IL-2) as well as mRNA expression of LPS-Induced TNF-alpha Factor (LITAF), Toll-like receptor-5 (TLR5) and interferon gamma (IFNγ) in the jejunum were quantified. The results showed that administration of XOS or FLA to chickens significantly improved the average daily gain. Supplementation with XOS increased acetate and butyrate in the cecum, while FLA supplementation increased propionate in the cecum. An increase in plasma IgG was observed in XOS-fed 21-day-old broilers, but FLA supplementation decreased IgG in the plasma of 42-day-old broilers and increased plasma IL-2. Furthermore, FLA or XOS supplementation downregulated mRNA expression of IFNγ, LITAF and TLR5. The above data suggest that addition of XOS and FLA to the diet could improve the growth performance of broilers and reduce the expression of cytokine genes by stimulating SCFA.


2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (6) ◽  
pp. 839-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. S. Rabelo ◽  
E. C. Lara ◽  
F. C. Basso ◽  
C. J. Härter ◽  
R. A. Reis

AbstractWhole-crop maize forage was ensiled without inoculant (control), inoculated with Lactobacillus buchneri and L. plantarum at a rate of 1 × 105 cfu/g fresh forage per bacterium (LBLP), or inoculated with Bacillus subtilis and L. plantarum at a rate 1 × 105 cfu/g fresh forage per bacterium (BSLP) with the goal to investigate the growth performance of finishing feedlot lambs. Thirty Dorper × Santa Ines lambs (29 ± 3.5 kg initial body weight) were used in the feedlot programme and assigned (n = 10) to one of three diets containing control, LBLP or BSLP silages in a 60:40 forage:concentrate ratio. Inoculation of maize silage did not alter dry matter intake (overall mean = 1.16 kg/day) and average daily gain (overall mean = 0.217 kg/day) of lambs. Consequently, feed efficiency remained unchanged. Inoculation of maize silage did not alter carcass and meat traits of lambs, with the exception of meat colour, wherein yellowness (b*) decreased by feeding LBLP and BSLP diets compared with the untreated diet. Regarding ruminal fermentation, there was an interaction between diets and the interval at which ruminal fluid was sampled for determining total volatile fatty acid concentration, but inoculation yielded no obvious results. In conclusion, the use of diets based on maize silage inoculated with L. plantarum combined with either L. buchneri or B. subtilis did not display relevant effects on growth performance of lambs; this response might be related to the limited impact of these bacterial inoculants on silage composition.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e06SC01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Lashkari ◽  
Akbar Taghizadeh ◽  
Hamid Paya ◽  
Søren K. Jensen

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with orange pulp (OP) on growth performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and blood parameters of fattening lambs. Twenty male lambs were placed in individual pens and fed with four levels of replacement of corn by OP (0, 33, 66, 100%) during 60 days. Average daily gain (ADG) showed a quadratic effect (p<0.007) with the increasing levels of replacement. Inclusion of 33 and 66% of OP in the diet significantly increased dry matter intake (DMI) compared to control group (p<0.01). Ruminal ammonia-N concentration showed a linear decrease (p<0.002). Ruminal fluid pH increased linearly with the increasing replacement of corn by OP (p<0.001). Acetate concentration showed a linear increase (p<0.001). Plasma total protein showed a linear increase (p<0.002). Organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber showed a quadratic effect with the level of replacement. The results of the present study showed that replacement of corn by OP improves DMI of fattening lambs, leading to an enhancement in ADG at the replacement level of 40.3%. Also, total replacement of corn by OP did not have any adverse effect on growth performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and blood parameters.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang ◽  
Zhao ◽  
Chen ◽  
Zhou ◽  
Meng ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the effect of applying various silage additives to whole corn crops at ensiling on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and blood physiology in growing–finishing bulls. Sixty Simmental × Yellow Cattle crossbred bulls were blocked by initial body weight (BW; 324.0 ± 5.4 kg) into 15 blocks. Animals in each block were randomly assigned to one of four diets formulated based on the following corn silage: control (CON), inoculated with complex lactic acid bacteria (CLB), ensilaged with mixed organic acid salts (MS), and ensilaged with CLB and MS (CLBMS). The feeding experiment lasted over 155 days, with an additional 7 days for adaptation. The results showed that bulls fed CLB-inoculated silage had greater (p < 0.05) daily dry matter intake than the other groups. The experimental treatment had no significant effect on average daily gain (p = 0.33) and feed-to-gain ratio (p = 0.13), although bulls fed CLB-inoculated silage had a larger numeric average daily gain. All additive-treated silage increased ruminal NH3–N content (p < 0.05) and reduced the acetate-to-propionate ratio (p < 0.05) of bulls compared with the control group. Bulls fed CLB-inoculated silage had a lower ruminal pH value (p < 0.05) than that of the other groups. Compared with the control group, bulls fed CLB-inoculated silage had greater blood cholesterol, albumin, and urea nitrogen (p < 0.05). Blood physiological responses were similar in bulls fed MS-treated and control silage, whereas those in cattle fed CLBMS-treated silage were between bulls fed CLB- and MS-treated silages and more similar to the former. Taking animal performance and cost effectiveness into consideration, the application of CLB alone to whole corn crops at ensiling appears to be a better choice compared with the application of either MS alone or both of them together.


2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (16) ◽  
pp. 1902
Author(s):  
Esmail Mohammadi ◽  
Hossein Janmohammadi ◽  
Majid Olyayee ◽  
Javad Ashrafi Helan ◽  
Somayeh Kalanaky

Context Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element and plays pivotal roles in poultry nutrition. Aims The present study was designed to compare the impact of dietary supplementation of different sources of Se on growth performance, Se concentration of breast meat, and immune response of broiler chickens. Methods In total, 300 1-day-old as hatched broilers were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments, with five replicates of 10 birds per each. The experimental diets were as follows: (1) corn–soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0.30 mg/kg of sodium selenite, (2) basal diet supplemented with 0.30 mg/kg of Se-enriched yeast, and (3–6) basal diet supplemented with 0.15, 0.30, 0.90 and 1.50 mg/kg of nano-Se respectively. Humoral immunity was assessed by antibody titer against a 5% sheep red blood-cell suspension and cellular immunity was measured by administration of phytohaemagglutinin-p at 38 days. Key results Results indicated that during the periods from 1 to 10 days, from 11 to 24 days, from 25 to 42 days and from 1 to 42 days, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio did not differ among the treatments (P &gt; 0.05). Assessment of orthogonal contrasts at the whole phase of feeding showed that the average daily gain in the broilers fed organic Se was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than that in those fed inorganic Se, as well as nano-Se in comparison to organic Se; such effects were not observed in earlier feeding stages. Se supplementation significantly increased the Se concentration of breast muscle (P &lt; 0.0001). The birds that received 1.50 mg/kg of diet nano-Se showed higher (P &lt; 0.05) total immunoglobulin and IgG titers in primary and secondary immune responses against sheep erythrocytes respectively. Toe web swelling after 24 h and 48 h of receiving phytohaemagglutinin-p was not affected by Se supplementation (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions In conclusion, the addition of nano-Se gave better results than did inorganic (sodium selenite) and organic (yeast selenium) forms of Se in performance traits, breast meat Se concentration and antibody response of broilers. Implications Novel elemental nanometer particulates, including nano-Se, exhibit new characteristics and a different mode of actions in comparison with organic and inorganic forms of Se sources in poultry diets. Inclusion of the nano form of Se in broiler diets and study of productive performance, immunity responses and meat quality leads to improve balanced broiler diets formulation in view of Se.


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