Effects of supplementation with lysophospholipids on performance, nutrient digestibility, and bacterial communities of beef cattle

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the influences of supplemental lysophospholipids (LPL) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal bacterial profile, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of beef cattle. Thirty-six Angus beef cattle [565 ± 10.25 kg body weight (BW)] were grouped by BW and age, and randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups: (1) control (CON, basal diet); (2) LLPL [CON supplemented with 0.5 g/kg LPL, dry matter (DM) basis]; and (3) HLPL (CON supplemented with 0.75 g/kg, DM basis). The Angus cattle were fed a total mixed ration that consisted of 25% roughage and 75% concentrate (dry matter [DM] basis). The results reveal that LPL inclusion linearly increased the average daily gain (P = 0.02) and the feed efficiency (ADG/feed intake, P = 0.02), while quadratically increasing the final weight (P = 0.02) of the beef cattle. Compared with CON, the total tract digestibilities of DM (P < 0.01), ether extract (P = 0.04) and crude protein (P < 0.01) were increased with LPL supplementation. At the phylum-level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes (P = 0.05) and ratio of Firmicutes: Bacteroidetes (P = 0.04) were linearly increased, while the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes (P = 0.04) and Proteobacteria (P < 0.01) were linearly decreased with increasing LPL inclusion. At the genus-level, the relative abundances of Clostridium (P < 0.01) and Roseburia (P < 0.01) were quadratically increased, and the relative abundances of Ruminococcus was linearly increased (P < 0.01) with LPL supplementation. Additionally, increasing the dose of LPL in diets linearly increased the molar proportion of butyrate (P < 0.01) and total SCFAs (P = 0.01) concentrations. A conclusion was drawn that, as a promising feed additive, LPL promoted growth performance and nutrient digestibility, which may be associated with the change of fecal microbiome and SCFAs.

Lysolecithin-derived feed additive improves feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and muscle fatty acid profile of Bos indicus-influenced cattle fed in a tropical environment

“…Similar to our observations in Exp.1, Zhang et al ( 36 ) reported linear increases in FBW, ADG, and feed efficiency in supplemented Angus cattle without affecting DMI when the dose of a lysophospholipid-derived feed additive was increased from 0.5 to 0.75 g/kg of DM. Moreover, Drago ( 15 ) noted improvements in ADG and feed efficiency in LYSO-supplemented Nellore bullocks submitted to a finishing diet with 7.0% EE but not when the diet contained 3.8% EE.…”

“…In that study, LYSO did not modify lipid digestion, which suggests that the potential for LYSO to further improve EE digestion was likely decreased when animals are fed rumen-protected highly digestible fat sources. In contrast, Zhang et al ( 36 ) observed a positive linear effect on EE digestion with a lecithin-derived feed additive (up to 8.75 g/animal/day) when rumen-protected fat was added to the diet, but the type and source of fat were not described. The authors suggested that EE digestibility was increased as a result of the effective emulsification of lecithin in reducing the size of fat globules, forming smaller micelles, and, as a consequence, increasing the surface area of lipid droplets for interaction with pancreatic enzymes.…”

“…Crude protein digestibility was positively affected by LYSO supplementation during final feeding period. Increments in CP digestibility in feedlot cattle supplemented with lysophospholipids have been previously observed (15,36). The rationale applied in nonruminant animals to explain the effect of lysolecithin-derived emulsifiers with regard to the greater number and size of membrane pores and altered fluidity and transmembrane permeability of nutrients in the intestine may be plausible for ruminants as well (36,43), but further research is needed.…”

“…Increments in CP digestibility in feedlot cattle supplemented with lysophospholipids have been previously observed (15,36). The rationale applied in nonruminant animals to explain the effect of lysolecithin-derived emulsifiers with regard to the greater number and size of membrane pores and altered fluidity and transmembrane permeability of nutrients in the intestine may be plausible for ruminants as well (36,43), but further research is needed. Greater ruminal ammonia was observed in Drago (15) and when lysophospholipid-supplemented cows were compared with cohorts receiving monensin (44).…”

Effects of Dietary Lysophospholipid Inclusion on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Nitrogen Utilization, and Blood Metabolites of Finishing Beef Cattle

“…Qiu et al [ 25 ] reported that choline, as one of the main components of LPLs, increased the concentration of butyrate in the colon digesta of weaned piglets, which was positively correlated with the body weight of the animals. Therefore, we suspected that the mechanism for LPLs improving ADG might be due to the increased concentration of butyric acid in gut microorganisms, which has also been verified in our previous study [ 26 ]. In a study by Song et al [ 27 ], however, Hanwoo heifers fed a diet with LPLs (0.3% or 0.5% w / w ) did not exhibit altered growth performance.…”