High Level of Energy and Protein Supplementation Effect on Feed Intake and Liveweight Gain of Bali Bulls Fed Elephant Grass

This research was carried out on-farm at Malonas village, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia to examine the effect of high level supplementation of by-products formulated for high ME and CP. Feed intake, faecal pH and liveweight gain of Bali bulls was observed. The basal diet was elephant grass, and supplements were rice bran (RB), cassava (C), palm kernel meal (PKM), gliricidia (G) and urea. Fifty Bali bulls (weight 168±4.48 kg) were housed in individual pens for 18 weeks (2 introductory and 16 experimental) and allocated into five treatments: A= elephant grass (EG) ad libitum, B= EG offered at 1%W/d, plus 2.5%W/d mixed RB:G, (1:1), C = EG offered at 1%W/d plus 2.5%W/d mixed RB:PKM(1:1), D = EG offered at 1%W/d plus 2.5%W/d mixed C:G (1:1), E = EG offered at 1%W/d plus 2.5%W/d mixed C+ urea: PKM (1:1). Faecal pH was measured at weeks 3, 9 and 15. Bali bulls fed B, C, D and E, consumed supplement at the rate of 2.15, 2.19, 2.09 and 2.29 %W/d, respectively. Total feed intake was 2.47, 2.98, 2.99, 2.93, 3.13%W/d, liveweight gain was 0.30, 0.57, 0.60, 0.66, 0.69 g/d and faecal pH was 6.93, 6.76, 6.65, 6.45, 6.33 for treatment A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. Supplementation increased significantly (P<0.05) total feed intake, liveweight gain, but reduced faecal pH. The highest total feed intake and liveweight gain was achieved by treatment E. It is concluded that cassava can be provided at 1.15%W/d in combination with protein supplement for high liveweight gain of Bali bulls.

DOP02 The dose-dependent effect of enteral nutrition on faecal microbial metabolites of healthy volunteers

Background Treatment with exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) offers a nutritional therapy paradigm in Crohn’s disease, with the extensive modulation of gut microbiome being its proposed mechanism of action (1). Recent studies propose variable clinical efficacy for 85% EN (Cheat EN/CEN), 50% EN (Partial EN/PEN) and 20% EN (maintenance EN/MEN), and a dose-dependent effect of EN use in CD (2–5). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the dose-dependent effect of 100%, 85%, 50%, and 20% EN on faecal microbial metabolites; and to investigate if this effect can be used as a compliance marker for EEN. Methods Healthy adults followed EEN, CEN, PEN or MEN diet for 7 days. Fresh faecal samples were collected before and after each dietary intervention Dietary assessment was performed throughout the intervention using estimated weight food diaries. Faecal pH, water content, Bristol Stool Chart Score, short-chain fatty acids and hydrogen sulphide were measured. Results A total of 122 faecal samples were collected from 61 subjects. The Mean(SEM) EN intake for the four groups was EEN: 100(0), CEN: 85.6(0.5), PEN: 50.1(0.4), MEN: 19.9(0.2) % of total energy intake. The baseline levels of all faecal sample measures were no different between the four groups. Faecal water content, propionic acid and Bristol Stool Chart Score significantly decreased only during EEN (all p≤0.03). Faecal pH significantly increased during EEN, CEN and PEN (all p &lt; 0.001), but not during MEN (p = 0.728). Faecal pH post-intervention was highest for EEN, followed by CEN and PEN [Mean(SEM), EEN: 8.2(0.1); CEN: 7.8(0.2); PEN: 7.3(0.1), all pairwise p ≤ 0.002]. The faecal concentration of hydrogen sulphide, acetic and butyric acid significantly decreased following both EEN and CEN groups (all p ≤ 0.009). The concentration of acetic acid post-EEN was significantly lower than the concentration post CEN [Mean(SEM), EEN: 173(10); CEN: 261(24) μmol/g, p = 0.001]. Hydrogen sulphide and butyric acid concentrations post EEN and post CEN were unchanged (p = 0.337, p = 0.141). Conclusion EEN extensively modulates faecal microbial metabolites and CEN induces similar effects. PEN induces variable effects and further analysis should investigate if variation in responses reflects differences in the non-EN food intake of the participants (50%). MEN had no effect on faecal microbial metabolites. Further analysis including high-throughput deep sequencing techniques will provide additional information about the dose-dependent effect of EN regimen on gut microbiome composition. References 1. Quince et al., Am J Gastroenterol, 110:1718–1729. 2. Logan et al., Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2019;50:664–674. 3. Gupta et al., IBD, 2013;19:1374–1378. 4. Duncan et al., BMC Gastroenterol, 2014;14:50. 5. Lee et al., IBD, 2015;21:1786–1793.

Association of faecal pH with childhood stunting: Results from a cross-sectional study

BackgroundGut microbiota plays an important role in the growth of children. The gut of children with optimum growth is enriched in certain species, especially Bifidobacteria and Clostridia. Bifidobacteria and commensal Clostridia both contribute to formation of acidic stool, and an elevated faecal pH indicates reduction of these species in the gut. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association of faecal pH with childhood stunting.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 100 children with length-for-age Z score (LAZ) <−1 aged between 12 and 18 months were enrolled from the ongoing Bangladesh Environmental Enteric Dysfunction study conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh. LAZ was measured by anthropometry and data on factors affecting linear growth were recorded. Faecal pH measurement was done using pH metre on freshly collected non-diarrhoeal faecal samples following standard procedure. Multiple quantile regression was done to quantify the relation between faecal pH and LAZ scores.ResultsThe mean LAZ and faecal pH of the children were −2.12±0.80 and 5.84±1.11, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed a statistically significant negative correlation between stool pH and the LAZ scores (p<0.01). After inclusion of other factors affecting linear growth into the regression model, a statistically significant inverse association was observed between faecal pH and LAZ score (p<0.01).ConclusionElevated faecal pH was found to have a significant association with stunted growth. As an indicator of gut microbiota status, faecal pH might have emerged as a possible indirect determinant of childhood stunting.Trial registration numberNCT02812615

EFFECTS OF PROBIOTIC INTAKE ON INTESTINAL BIFIDOBACTERIA OF CELIAC PATIENTS

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Healthy individuals exhibit a significantly higher concentration of faecal bifidobacteria in comparison to celiac patients. Even though there are potential benefits in probiotic usage, they have been little explored as an adjunctive therapy in celiac disease. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at the comparison of faecal bifidobacteria concentration and pH among celiac patients and healthy subjects before and after the daily intake of 100 g of yogurt containing probiotic for a thirty-day period. METHODS Feces from 17 healthy subjects and 14 celiac patients were analyzed, in which stool culture was performed for the isolation and quantification of faecal bifidobacteria. Furthermore, Gram’s method was employed for the microscopic analysis of the colonies, while the identification of the Bifidobacterium genus was made through determination of the fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase enzyme. Faecal pH was measured using a calibrated pHmeter. RESULTS Faecal bifidobacteria concentration before probiotic consumption was significantly higher in healthy individuals (2.3x108±6.3x107 CFU/g) when compared to celiac patients (1.0x107±1.7x107 CFU/g). Faecal pH values did not show a significant difference. After the daily consumption of probiotic-containing yogurt both groups showed a significant increase in the concentration of faecal bifidobacteria, but healthy subjects presented significantly higher bifidobacteria concentrations (14.7x108±0.2x108 CFU/g) than the celiac group (0.76x108±0.1x108 CFU/g). The obtained pH values from both groups were not significantly different, being 7.28±0.518 for the celiac patients and 7.07±0.570 for healthy individuals after the probiotic intake. CONCLUSION The probiotic supplementation significantly increased the number of bifidobacteria in the feces of celiac patients, although it was not sufficient to reach the concentration found in healthy individuals prior to its consumption.

Subclinical laminitis and its association with pO2 and faecal alterations: Isikli, Aydin experience

ABSTRACTObjective. The aim of this field trial was to investigate the relationships among subclinical laminitis, hematological, ruminal and faecal alterations. Materials and Methods. To this extent dairy cows presenting subclinical laminitis (n=11) and to those of other healthy cows without laminitis (n=10) were enrolled and assigned into two groups. All animals were receiving the same daily ration formulated to contain 47% cornsilage and 18% hay, mainly. Effects of subclinical laminitis challenges on measurements of feces, and blood samples, were investigated to determine which of these measurements may aid in the diagnosis. pH changes in ruminal fluid collected via rumenocentesis were measured. Besides the following parameters were also measured; blood pH, faecal pH and faecal scoring. Blinded investigators performed the sample collection. Results. No statistical differences between the groups were detected for blood gas values studied regarding pCO2, HCO3, BE, indeed mean that pO2 values decreased statistically (p<0.05) and faecal pH was significantly decreased (p<0.05) in cows with subclinical laminitis in contrast to healthy controls. Conclusions. pO2 values and faecal pH may be valuable as indirect indicators of subclinical laminitis in cattle.RESUMENObjetivos. El objetivo de esta prueba de campo fue investigar las relaciones entre la laminitis subclínicay alteraciones hematológicas, ruminales y fecales. Materiales y métodos. Las vacas lecheras que presentaron laminitis subclínica (n=11) y las vacas sanas sin laminitis (n=10) fueron reclutadas y asignadas en dos grupos. Todos los animales recibieron la misma ración diaria que contenía 47% de ensilaje de maíz y 18% de heno, principalmente. Los efectos de la laminitis subclínica sobre las mediciones de las heces y muestras de sangre, fueron investigados para determinar cuál de estas mediciones pueden ayudar en el diagnóstico. Se midieron los cambios de pH en el fluido ruminal recogido a través rumenocentesis. Además, también se midieron los siguientes parámetros; pH de la sangre, el pH fecal y la puntuación fecal. La toma de las muestras se realizó a doble ciego. Resultados. No se detectaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos para los valores de los gases sanguíneos estudiados en relación con la pCO2, HCO3, BE; lo que significa que los valores de pO2 disminuyeron estadísticamente (p<0.05) y que el pH fecal se redujo significativamente (p<0.05) en las vacas con laminitis subclínica; en contraste con los controles sanos. Conclusiones. Los valores de PO2 y pH fecal pueden ser valiosos como indicadores indirectos de la laminitis subclínica en el ganado.

Calcium absorption and bone density in immature horses fed two levels of crude protein

Research in other animal models indicate that high protein diets increase urinary calcium (Ca) excretion and may lead to a negative Ca balance and reduced bone density. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of two common levels of dietary protein intake on physiological parameters, Ca absorption, and bone density in immature horses. Sixteen 10-month old horses were blocked by age and sex into two dietary treatments. The control diet (C) was formulated using common ingredients to provide 100% of the National Research Council (NRC) for crude protein (CP), while the high protein diet (H) was formulated at 150% of NRC recommendations. Lower than expected dietary intake resulted in mean protein intake of 769±16 g/d in C and 978±18 g/d in H, equivalent to 91% and 116% of NRC, respectively. Blood, urine, and faeces were collected during the 112-day study to determine pH and mineral balance. Radiographs of the left third metacarpal were used to estimate bone density via radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). Although urine pH decreased over time (P<0.001), no change in blood or urine pH was observed due to diet. Faecal pH, normalised to day 0, was significantly lower in H (P<0.02). Faecal Ca loss was greater in H (P<0.005); while Ca absorption and absorption as a percent of intake were lower for H (P<0.02). RBAE of dorsal and palmar cortices increased over time (P<0.001), but no differences were observed between diets. While excess dietary protein decreased faecal pH, increased faecal Ca excretion, and decreased Ca absorption, there appeared to be no effect on bone density over the course of this study.