Effects of tributyrin supplementation on short-chain fatty acid concentration, fibrolytic enzyme activity, nutrient digestibility and methanogenesis in adult Small Tail ewes

Abstract

In vivo and in vitro trials were conducted to assess the effects of tributyrin (TB) supplementation on short-chain fatty acid (SFCA) concentrations, fibrolytic enzyme activity, nutrient digestibility and methanogenesis in adult sheep. Nine 12-month-old ruminally cannulated Small Tail ewes (initial body weight 55 ± 5.0 kg) without pregnancy were used for the in vitro trial. In vitro substrate made to offer TB at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg on a dry matter (DM) basis was incubated by ruminal microbes for 72 h at 39°C. Forty-five adult Small Tail ewes used for the in vivo trial were randomly assigned to five treatments with nine animals each for an 18-d period according to body weight (55 ± 5.0 kg). Total mixed ration fed to ewes was also used to offer TB at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg on a DM basis. The in vitro trial showed that TB supplementation linearly increased apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre, and enhanced gas production and methane emissions. The in vivo trial showed that TB supplementation decreased DM intake, but enhanced ruminal fermentation efficiency. Both in vitro and in vivo trials showed that TB supplementation enhanced total SFCA concentrations and carboxymethyl cellulase activity. The results indicate that TB supplementation might exert advantage effects on rumen microbial metabolism, despite having an enhancing effect on methanogenesis.

Tributyrin displayed the potential nutrient mechanism by improving the growth of rumen bacteria of weaned lambs rather than via releasing butyric acid

“…lactilyticas can hydrolyze TB as well as glycerol, and their mainly fermenting products were VFAs especially acetic acid, propionic acid but no formic or butyric acids [27]. Besides, our in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that supplementing TB could signi cantly promote the concentration of total VFAs in both rumen and fermentation uids [11,[28][29][30]. Furthermore, a novel esterase gene made of uncultured microorganisms from the contents of cow rumen has been cloned [31].…”

Effects of Supplementing Tributyrin on Meat Quality Characteristics of Foreshank Muscle of Weaned Small-Tailed Han Sheep Lambs

“…For weaned Small-Tailed Han sheep, supplementing TB was observed to enhance the relative abundances of rumen bacteria at both the phylum and genus levels [10]. Besides, our previous experiments demonstrated that TB supplementation could significantly increase the yield of microbial crude protein and promote volatile fatty acids concentration in both rumen and fermentation fluids [11][12][13][14]. It is well known that the rumen microbial composition plays a vital role in both the growth and production of ruminant animals through its association with rumen bacteria; thus, we hypothesized that adding TB to the diet had a good potential to improve the meat quality characteristics such as amino acid (AA) content and FA level in mutton.…”