A Mixed Phytogenic Modulates the Rumen Bacteria Composition and Milk Fatty Acid Profile of Water Buffaloes

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of a mixed phytogenic (MP) on rumen bacteria and their potential association with rumen fermentation and milk yield parameters in water buffaloes. Twenty Murrah buffaloes were fed a basal diet (consisting of maize silage, brewers' grains, and concentrate mixture) for 6 weeks supplemented with 0 (control), 15 (MP15), 25 (MP25), and 35 (MP35) g of mixed phytogenic/buffalo per d. The mixed phytogenic contained fennel (seeds), ajwain (seeds), ginger (tubers), Swertia chirata (leaves), Citrullus colocynthis (fruit), turmeric, fenugreek (seeds), Terminalia chebula (fruit), licorice (roots), and Phyllanthus emblica (fruit) in equal quantities. After 2 weeks of adaptation, daily milk yield, and weekly milk composition were recorded. On the last day of the experiment (d 42), rumen contents were collected to determine rumen fermentation parameters and bacterial diversity through 16S rRNA sequencing. Results revealed no change in dry matter intake, milk yield and rumen fermentation parameters except pH, which increased (P = 0.029) in response to MP supplementation. The mixed phytogenic increased (P < 0.01) milk fatty acids (C4 to C14:0) in MP15 only. The milk C16:1 content and its unsaturation index were higher (P < 0.05) in MP35 as compared to the control and other treatments. Furthermore, C18:3n3 was higher (P < 0.05) in the control, MP15, and MP25, as compared to MP35. Supplementation of MP tended to increase (P = 0.095) the Shannon index of bacterial alpha diversity and a difference (P < 0.05) among treatment groups was observed in beta diversity. Feeding MP increased the Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes but decreased Bacteroidetes numerically. In addition, the dominant genus Prevotella decreased in all treatment groups while Pseudobutyrivibrio, Butyrivibrio, and Succinivibrioanceae increased numerically in MP25 and MP35. The mixed phytogenic promoted groups of rumen bacteria positively associated with milk and fat yield. Overall, our study revealed 14 positive correlations of rumen bacteria with milk yield and eight with rumen fermentation parameters. Our findings reveal substantial changes in the rumen bacteriome composition and milk fatty acid content in response to MP but these results should be interpreted carefully, as the sample size of our study was relatively small.

Fresh Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) Fruit Supplementation Enhances Milk Fatty Acid Profiles and the Antioxidant Capacities of Milk and Blood in Dairy Cows

“…Plants and fruits naturally contain polyphenols such as tannins, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties that can boost the health and productivity of animals [1][2][3]. In addition, mixing phytogenics or tannins in ruminant animals' diets has been found to modulate ruminal biohydrogenation, resulting in increased levels of health-promoting fatty acids in milk [4][5][6][7][8], such as very long chain n-3 fatty acids (FA) including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C 22:6 ). Moreover, tannins, when administered at low concentrations, can increase the production of microbially generated odd and branched FAs (OBCFA) (iso-and ante-iso and uneven chain FA) [9].…”

Characteristics of Ruminal Fatty Acids Using In Vitro Culture System by Addition of Galangal (Alpinia galangal) Essential oil

“…The type and abundance of bacteria will also affect the characteristics of the ruminal fatty acids. Butyrivibrio sp is reliable for the hydrolysis of phospho-and galactolipids, while Anaerovibrio lipolytic correlated with caprylic caproic and lauric fatty acid production acids [26] [27]. The study reported that caproic and lauric levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) with galangal EO (Table 2).…”

Rumen fermentation and microbiota in Shami goats fed on condensed tannins or herbal mixture

“…Petric et al [ 21 ] noticed that herbal mixture supplementation in lambs affected the bacterial population and the abundance of Ruminococcus and Fibrobacter . In water buffalo, Hassan et al [ 22 ] reported that phytochemicals mixtures increased the relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, while the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes besides genus Prevotella were declined. Kholif et al [ 8 ] indicated that herbal mixture increased total VFA and propionic acid besides the relative abundances of propionate-producing bacteria such as family Prevotellaceae and Veillonellaceae, and declined the methane-producing archaea, Methanobacteriaceae.…”