Feeding hempseed cake alters the bovine gut, respiratory and reproductive microbiota

Abstract

A growing number of studies have investigated the feasibility of utilizing hemp by-products as livestock feedstuffs; however, their impact on livestock microbiomes remains unexplored. Here, we evaluated the effects of feeding hempseed cake on the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive microbiota in beef heifers. Angus-crossbred heifers (19-months old, initial body weight = 494 ± 10 kg [SE]) were fed a corn-based finishing diet containing 20% hempseed cake as a substitute for 20% corn dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DM basis; Control; n = 16/group) for 111 days until slaughter. Ruminal fluid and deep nasopharyngeal swabs (days 0, 7, 42, 70 and 98), and vaginal and uterine swabs (at slaughter) were collected, and the microbiota assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Diet affected the community structure of the ruminal (d 7−98; 0.06 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.12; P < 0.05), nasopharyngeal (d 98; R2 = 0.18; P < 0.001), and vaginal (R2 = 0.06; P < 0.01) microbiota. Heifers fed hempseed cake had increased microbial diversity in the rumen, reduced microbial richness in the vagina, and greater microbial diversity and richness in the uterus. In addition to the distinct microbial communities in the rumen, nasopharynx, vagina and uterus, we identified 28 core taxa that were shared (≥ 60% of all samples) across these sampling locations. Feeding hempseed cake appeared to alter the bovine gut, respiratory and reproductive microbiota. Our results suggest that future research aiming to evaluate the use of hemp by-products in livestock diet should consider their impact on animal microbiome and microbiome mediated animal health and reproductive efficiency. Our findings also highlight the need for research evaluating the impact of hemp-associated food and personal care products on the human microbiome.

Screening and selection of essential oils for an intranasal spray against bovine respiratory pathogens based on antimicrobial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antibiofilm activities

“…The nasopharyngeal swabs were cultured in relatively less-selective media BHI, which may have limited the growth of certain bacteria that do not thrive in this media. The mean observed total ASVs in NS microbiota culture that was not treated with EO was about 30, which is less than the number of ASVs observed in nasal microbiota of newborn calves (about 150 ASVs) ( 65 ), and the ASVs (about 450 ASVs) observed from the direct sequencing of the original nasopharyngeal swabs ( 31 ) that were used in this present study.…”

“…To investigate the impact of EOs on the overall growth of the culture-enriched bovine NS microbiota in vitro , NS swab samples collected from a cohort of crossbred finishing beef heifers ( n = 31; initial BW = 494 ± 10 (SE) kg) were used. Animal housing, handling, and feeding conditions were described elsewhere ( 31 ). Deep nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from the right nostril of each heifer using a long, guarded swab with a rayon tip (27 cm long, MW 124, Medical Wire & Equipment, Corsham, United Kingdom) as described previously ( 31 ).…”

“…Animal housing, handling, and feeding conditions were described elsewhere ( 31 ). Deep nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from the right nostril of each heifer using a long, guarded swab with a rayon tip (27 cm long, MW 124, Medical Wire & Equipment, Corsham, United Kingdom) as described previously ( 31 ). Upon collection, NS swabs were stored in 1 mL BHI broth containing 20% glycerol, flash frozen with dry ice and stored at −80°C.…”

Effects of Dietary Restriction and One-Carbon Metabolite Supplementation During the First 63 Days of Gestation on the Maternal Gut, Vaginal, and Blood Microbiota in Cattle

“…DNA extraction from ruminal uid, vaginal swabs, and blood DNA was extracted from the ruminal uid using a Qiagen DNeasy PowerLyzer PowerSoil kit (Qiagen Inc., Germantown, MD, USA) according to the manufacturer's protocol with some modi cations as outlined by our previous publications (Amat et al, 2021b;Winders et al, 2023). Brie y, ruminal uid samples were removed from the − 80°C freezer and thawed in a 37°C water bath.…”

Nutrient intake, digestibility, and utilization in goats fed graded levels of hempseed cake finisher diets

“…Hempseed by-products (i.e., cake and hulls) have potential economic uses, including feed, human food and beverages (Frassinetti et al 2018 ; Leonard et al 2020 ; Aloo et al 2022 ). Valorization of hempseed by-products as animal feedstuff provides a potential alternative to increasing their economic value, thus improving the importance of hempseed by-products in the circular bioeconomy (Moscariello et al 2021 ; Aloo et al 2022 ; Winders et al 2023 ).…”