Abstract
Gut microbiota positively contribute to livestock nutrition and metabolism. The manipulation of these microbes may improve animal health. Some feed additives improve livestock health and metabolism by regulating gut microbiota composition and activity. We fed hybrid pigs diets supplemented with 0% (control), 5% (treat 1), 10% (treat 2), or 15% (treat 3) fermented Mao-tai lees (FML) for 90 days. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bioamines, and microbial communities found in colonic contents were analyzed to investigate microbiota composition and metabolic profiles. Concentrations of straight-chain fatty acids (e.g., acetate, propionate, and butyrate) and tyramine increased with FML supplementation content. Contrary to the minor effects of 5% and 10% FML on gut microbiota, 15% FML influenced beta diversity (Jaccard or Bray–Curtis dissimilarity) but not alpha diversity (number of operational taxonomic units and Shannon diversity) of pig gut microbial communities compared to the control group. Notably, 15% FML animals were characterized by a higher abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus and Akkermansia) but lower abundances of potential pathogens (Escherichia). Numerous genes associated with metabolism (e.g., starch, sucrose, and sulfur-compounds metabolism) showed a higher relative abundance in the 15% FML than in the control group. Additionally, most Phascolarctobacterium, Treponema, Prevotella, and Faecalibacterium bacterial markers in the 15% FML group were positively correlated with straight-chain fatty acid concentrations, suggesting that these bacteria are likely associated with SCFA production. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the beneficial effects of 15% FML on fermentation of undigested compounds and gut microbiota composition in the colon. Thus, 15% FML supplementation in pig feed may possibly represent a way to optimize pig colon health for livestock farming.
Highlights
Healthy livestock farming technologies and management practices are a central concern in animal farming industry, which must provide high-quality meat products to safely meet human consumption requirements
The concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, total straight-chain fatty acids, and total Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut contents significantly increased with fermented Mao-tai lees (FML) content in the feed (Spearman correlation analysis, all P < 0.05; Table 1), whereas there were no significant differences in BCFA concentration among groups
Our results indicated that dietary supplementation with 15% FML significantly influenced gut microbial community structure and bacterial metabolite concentrations in pigs, and those abundant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the 15% FML group were positively associated with the fermentation of dietary fiber
Summary
Healthy livestock farming technologies and management practices are a central concern in animal farming industry, which must provide high-quality meat products to safely meet human consumption requirements. Studies focused on replacing antibiotics in livestock husbandry have examined the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and other dietary additives on livestock (Abudabos et al 2017; Markowiak and Slizewska 2018; Marshall and Levy 2011). These studies have aroused the interests of scientists globally, since these newly developed feed supplements were found to improve livestock health and growth (Markowiak and Slizewska 2018)
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