Abstract
Simple SummaryThe traditional sheep feeding system in Inner Mongolia, based on pasture grazing, is gradually transforming into a semi-grazing plus supplementation or feedlot approach, as grassland ecological protection becomes increasingly important. The fatty acid composition of the animals’ tissues changes with transformation of the feeding system. However, the changes to blood fatty acid metabolites in sheep as a result of alterations to the feeding regimen are unknown. In this study, pasture feeding, pasture feeding plus corn supplementation, and barn feeding were carried out to explore the effects of feeding regimens on blood fatty acid composition and metabolic pathways of sheep using a metabolomic approach. The results revealed that compared to grazing, concentrate supplement feeding regimens, including either grazing plus supplements or feeding indoors, down-regulated blood n-3 PUFA biosynthesis and up-regulated blood inflammatory compound metabolism by n-6 PUFA. These data suggest that under different feeding regimens, an appropriate ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA in ruminant diets will contribute to increasingly high-quality animal production and improved immunocompetence.Feeding regimens influence the fatty acid composition of animal-derived products. However, there is limited information on the effect of feeding regimens on the blood fatty acid composition and metabolic pathways of ruminant animals. In this study, 30 Wujumqin sheep were randomly assigned to three groups, PF (pasture feeding), PSF (pasture feeding plus corn supplementation) and BF (barn feeding), to examine the effects of feeding regimens on blood fatty acid composition and metabolic pathways through a metabolomic approach. The results showed that the BF sheep had increased serum n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids levels, while the PF and PSF sheep had increased serum n-3 PUFA levels. Compared to the BF and PSF sheep that were fed ground corn, the PF sheep that only ate natural grass had up-regulated serum DHA levels. Meanwhile, blood metabolites from linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, including pro-inflammatory products (20-HETE, LTs, TX etc.) and anti-inflammatory products (LXB4, DHETs, HPETEs etc.) were elevated in the BF group. It was found that, compared to grazing, concentrate supplement feeding regimens, including either grazing plus supplements or feeding indoors, down-regulated blood n-3 PUFA biosynthesis and up-regulated the blood inflammatory compound metabolism by n-6 PUFA.
Highlights
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.A typical steppe region, Xilinguole League, accounting for 25% of the total grassland in Inner Mongolia with an area of 19.3 × 106 ha, is considered as one of the most popular sheep production regions in China and even in the whole of the Eurasian grasslands [1].because of drought stress caused by climate change and unreasonable animal husbandry, 74% of the grasslands in Xilinguole League have suffered from severe deterioration [2]
The PCA score plot showed that the serum metabolites in the barn feeding (BF) group were clearly separated from the PF and PSF groups (Figure 1A,B)
Points plotted in red had a fold-change ≥1.2 or ≤0.83 and p < 0.05, representing significantly different metabolites between the two groups. These results indicated that the different feeding regimens (i.e., BF vs. PF, PSF vs. BF, and PSF vs. PF) changed the serum metabolites of the sheep (Figure 2A–C)
Summary
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.A typical steppe region, Xilinguole League, accounting for 25% of the total grassland in Inner Mongolia with an area of 19.3 × 106 ha, is considered as one of the most popular sheep production regions in China and even in the whole of the Eurasian grasslands [1].because of drought stress caused by climate change and unreasonable animal husbandry, 74% of the grasslands in Xilinguole League have suffered from severe deterioration [2]. A typical steppe region, Xilinguole League, accounting for 25% of the total grassland in Inner Mongolia with an area of 19.3 × 106 ha, is considered as one of the most popular sheep production regions in China and even in the whole of the Eurasian grasslands [1]. By a factor of five over the past six decades [3], as a result of increases in meat and animal product demand and population pressure. The traditional sheep feeding system in Inner Mongolia is based on ad libitum grazing in pastures, which is gradually transforming into a semi-grazing plus supplementation or feedlot approach, as grassland ecological protection becomes more important, and with the implementation of the “Eco-green and High-quality Development Policy” by the central government of China. A great majority of herders used corn-based concentrates to feed animals, usually locally available at low cost for supplementation after grazing
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