Abstract
To enhance pig production, feed efficiency (FE) should be improved; however, the mechanisms by which gut microbes affect FE in pigs have not been fully elucidated. To investigate the differences between the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota associated with low and high FE, microbial compositions were characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing, functional annotations were performed by shotgun metagenomics, and metabolomic profiles were created by GC-TOF-MS from female Landrace finishing pigs with low and high feed conversion ratios (FCRs). Lactobacillus was enriched in the gut microbiota of individuals with low FCRs (and thus high FE), while Prevotella abundance was significantly higher in individuals with high FCRs (and thus low FE). This may be linked to carbohydrate consumption and incomplete digestion. The activity of pathways involved in the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins was greater in pigs with lower FE. We also identified differences in pyruvate-related metabolism, including phenylalanine and lysine metabolism. This suggests that pyruvate metabolism is closely related to microbial fermentation in the colon, which in turn affects glycolysis. This study deepens our understanding of how gut microbiota are related to pig growth traits, and how regulating microbial composition could aid in improving porcine FE. However, these results need to be validated using a larger pig cohort in the future.
Highlights
Feed consumption is the largest variable expense associated with swine production, accounting for 50–85% of the total cost [1]
Data from the colonic metagenomic and metabolome analyses revealed differences in pyruvate-related metabolism, including phenylalanine and lysine metabolism. This suggests that pyruvate metabolism is closely related to microbial fermentation in the large intestine, which in turn affects glycolysis
The various fecal and colonic microbiota of finishing pigs were correlated with different feed efficiency (FE)
Summary
Feed consumption is the largest variable expense associated with swine production, accounting for 50–85% of the total cost [1]. To enhance pig production, feed efficiency (FE) needs to be improved. Routine evaluation of FE is carried out using residual feed intake (RFI) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) values [2]. A high FE means that an animal has a low RFI and FCR: gaining body weight while consuming less feed [2]. Enhanced pig FE is associated with economic benefits in the swine industry, and progress has been made to optimize it using genetics, management practices, and dietary strategies [3].
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