Dietary Supplementation of Fruit from Nitraria tangutorum Improved Immunity and Abundance of Beneficial Ruminal Bacteria in Hu Sheep

Abstract

The fruit of Nitraria tangutorum (FNT) is reputed to possess medicinal properties; however, its effect on sheep (Ovis aries) is unknown. The aim of this study was to fill this gap. In a 3 × 3 Latin square design, six 12-month-old rumen-fistulated Hu rams (56.2 ± 8.26 kg; mean ± SD) were penned individually and offered one of three levels of FNT, namely, 0 g/d (control; CON), 16 g/d (N16), and 48 g/d (N48). The concentration of serum immunoglobulin G increased linearly (p = 0.03) with an increasing intake of FNT. The serum concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate in the N48 group was lower than in the CON group (p = 0.01) and decreased linearly with increasing FNT (p = 0.001). The concentration of serum lactate dehydrogenase tended to decrease (p = 0.07) linearly with an increase in FNT intake, while the concentration of glucose did not differ among groups (p = 0.14) but displayed a quadratic curve with an increase in FNT (p = 0.05). The rumen concentration of lipase decreased linearly with increasing FNT (p = 0.04). The rumen fermentation variables were not affected by FNT. The FNT intake increased the abundance of beneficial ruminal bacteria, such as Lachnoclostridium, Rhodocyclaceae, and Candidatus Arthromitus. Prevotella, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Ruminococcus, Olsenella, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, and Quinella were the dominant bacterial genera in all treatments. We conclude that FNT can improve immunity and increase the relative abundance of beneficial ruminal bacteria in sheep.

Enhancing Rumen Fermentation and Bacteria Community in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) through Varying Levels of Dragon Fruit Peel Polyphenolic Extract: An In Vitro Study

“…Meanwhile, these bacterium abundances were positively correlated with butyric acid, isovaleric acid, and valeric acid. Similarly, a previous study showed that feeding Hu sheep with the polyphenol-rich fruit Nitraria tangutorum could increase the abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group [51]. In this study, a positive correlation was identified between Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and butyric acid content.…”

Preweaning period is a critical window for rumen microbial regulation of average daily gain in Holstein heifer calves

“…Lachnospira comprises many pectin degradation bacteria and has been shown to be enriched in the rumen of grass-fed steers [ 48 , 49 ]. Lachnoclostridium consists of many beneficial bacteria [ 50 ]. However, an increase in the relative abundances of Lachnospira and Lachnoclostridium was insufficient to alter ruminal fermentation in LADG calves.…”

The Effect of Grape Seed Cake as a Dietary Supplement Rich in Polyphenols on the Quantity and Quality of Milk, Metabolic Profile of Blood, and Antioxidative Status of Lactating Dairy Goats

“…The present research resulted in a non-significant increase in TGC and CHOL concentrations and a significant decrease in BHB in goats' blood, which points out the fact that feeding mixtures of the experimental groups were enriched with GSC ether extract (Table 1). Specifically, it is known that grape seeds have higher polysaccharide content, which can lower serum BHB concentrations and also inhibit the mobilization of adipose tissue and liver glycogen in the GSC10 group [48]. The amount of NEFA in the serum indicates how fat is metabolized, and the goats from the GSC groups' consistent concentration might be connected to the absence of alterations in CHOL.…”