Effects of different feeding patterns on the rumen bacterial community of tan lambs, based on high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons

Effects of Alhagi camelorum Fisch polysaccharide from different regions on growth performance and gastrointestinal microbiota of sheep lambs

Polysaccharides derived from Alhagi camelorum Fisch possess diverse activities, making them a potential prebiotic candidates for enhancing lamb health. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of Alhagi camelorum Fisch polysaccharides from Aksu (AK) and Shanshan (SS) regions on sheep lambs. The results showed that sheep lambs in the SS group exhibited significantly increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain, levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin (INS), IgA and IgM, and cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α and IFN-γ compared to those in the control check (CK) group. Moreover, the SS treatment significantly increased the diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria, while concurrently diminishing the prevalence of harmful bacteria. Additionally, it modulated various metabolic pathways, promoted lamb growth, improved immunity, reduced the risk of gastrointestinal disease and improved the composition of gastrointestinal microbiota. In summary, our findings highlight the potential of SS treatment in enhancing gastrointestinal health of sheep lambs by improving intestinal function, immunity, and gut microbiome. Consequently, these results suggest that Alhagi camelorum Fisch polysaccharides derived from Shanshan regions holds promising potential as a valuable intervention for optimizing growth performance in sheep lambs.

Effects of yeast culture on in vitro ruminal fermentation and microbial community of high concentrate diet in sheep

This research aimed to investigate effects of different yeast culture (YC) levels on in vitro fermentation characteristics and bacterial and fungal community under high concentrate diet. A total of 5 groups were included in the experiment: control group without YC (CON), YC1 (0.5% YC proportion of substrate dry matter), YC2 (1%), YC3 (1.5%) and YC4 (2%). After 48 h of fermentation, the incubation fluids and residues were collected to analyze the ruminal fermentation parameters and bacterial and fungal community. Results showed that the ruminal fluid pH of YC2 and YC4 groups was higher (P < 0.05) than that of CON group. Compared with CON group, the microbial protein, propionate and butyrate concentrations and cumulative gas production at 48 h of YC2 group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), whereas an opposite trend of ammonia nitrogen and lactate was observed between two groups. Microbial analysis showed that the Chao1 and Shannon indexes of YC2 group were higher (P < 0.05) than those of CON group. Additionally, YC supplementation significantly decreased (P < 0.05) Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-001, Streptococcus bovis and Neosetophoma relative abundances. An opposite tendency of Aspergillus abundance was found between CON and YC treatments. Compared with CON group, the relative abundances of Prevotella, Succiniclasticum, Butyrivibrio and Megasphaera elsdenii were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in YC2 group, while Apiotrichum and unclassified Clostridiales relative abundances were decreased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, high concentrate substrate supplemented with appropriate YC (1%) can improve ruminal fermentation and regulate bacterial and fungal composition.

Preparation and activity study of Ruoqiang jujube polysaccharide copper chelate

Background: Polysaccharide metal chelate exhibit both immunoregulatory activity and metal element supplementation effects. Methods: In this study, Ruoqiang jujube polysaccharide copper chelate (RJP-Cu) was prepared and the preparation conditions were optimized using the response surface method. Subsequently, RJP-Cu was administered to lambs to evaluate its impact on growth performance, copper ion (Cu2+) supplementation, immune enhancement, and intestinal flora was evaluated. Results: The results indicated that optimal RJP-Cu chelation conditions included a sodium citrate content of 0.5 g, a reaction temperature of 50°C, and a solution pH of 8.0, resulting in a Cu2+ concentration of 583°mg/kg in RJP-Cu. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed significant structural changes in RJP before and after chelation. RJP-Cu displaying characteristic peaks of both polysaccharides and Cu2+ chelates. Blood routine indexes showed no significant differences among the RJP-Cu-High dose group (RJP-Cu-H), RJP-Cu-Medium dose group (RJP-Cu-M), RJP-Cu-low dose group (RJP-Cu-L) and the control group (p > 0.05). However, compared with the control group, the RJP-Cu-H, M, and L dose groups significantly enhanced lamb production performance (p < 0.05). Furthermore, RJP-Cu-H, M, and L dose groups significantly increased serum Cu2+ concentration, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) contents compared with control group (p < 0.05). The RJP-Cu-H group exhibited significant increases in serum IgA and IgG antibodies, as well as the secretion of cytokines IL-2, IL-4, and TNF-α compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, RJP-Cu-H group increased the species abundance of lamb intestinal microbiota, abundance and quantity of beneficial bacteria, and decrease the abundance and quantity of harmful bacteria. The RJP-Cu-H led to the promotion of the synthesis of various Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), improvements in atrazine degradation and clavulanic acid biosynthesis in lambs, while reducing cell apoptosis and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. Conclusion: Thus, these findings demonstrate that RJP-Cu, as a metal chelate, could effectively promote lamb growth performance, increase Cu2+ content, and potentially induce positive immunomodulatory effects by regulating antioxidant enzymes, antibodies, cytokines, intestinal flora, and related metabolic pathways.