Milk Replacer Supplementation Ameliorates Growth Performance and Rumen Microbiota of Early-Weaning Yimeng Black Goats

Abstract

Increasing evidence has indicated the ameliorative effect of milk replacer supplementation in ruminants for regulating their early growth and rumen development. However, it is still unclear whether milk replacer supplementation has a beneficial role in the growth performance and rumen microbiota of Yimeng black goats (YBGs). Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the effects of milk replacer on growth performance and rumen microbiota of YBGs. Our results revealed that milk replacer supplementation could significantly improve the growth performance of YBGs. Additionally, the results of alpha and beta diversities indicated that there was no significant difference in richness and diversity between the control and milk replacer-treated YBGs. At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the most dominant phyla in all the samples at different stages. Moreover, the YBGs treated with milk replacer possessed a higher abundance of Verrucomicrobia than that in the control YBGs, while the level of Actinobacteria was obviously decreased. It is noteworthy that the abundance of Proteobacteria in the control YBGs was higher than that in the YBGs supplemented with milk replacer throughout the experiment. At the level of genus, the differences in the richness between control and milk replacer supplement YBGs were gradually observed. Compared with the control YBGs, the proportion of Akkermansia, Veillonella, Anaerovibrio, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, Ruminococcus_1, and Ruminococcus_2 was increased in the YBGs treated with milk replacer, whereas Turicibacter was decreased. In conclusion, milk replacer supplementation may serve as a good applicant for ameliorating early YBGs development and rumen microbiota.

Microbiome analysis reveals gut microbiota alteration of early-weaned Yimeng black goats with the effect of milk replacer and age

“…At the phylum level, the ratio of Firmicutes in the gut microbiota of milk replacer-treated YBGs increased, whereas the ratio of Cyanobacteria , Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria decreased as compared to control YBGs. Remarkably, our previous study also indicated that milk replacer supplementation significantly reduced the abundance of Actinobacteria in the rumen of YBGs [ 14 ]. The Firmicutes is mainly responsible for the digestion of cellulose and its higher abundance in the intestinal environment contributes to meet the nutrition and energy requirements of animals during growth and development [ 31 ].…”

“…Hu et al found that the alpha diversity of piglets was apparently decreased during the early period after weaning due to the sudden diet transition from breast milk to solid feed [ 28 ]. Our previous research has demonstrated that milk replacer administration could not change the diversity of rumen microbiota of early-weaned YBGs, but the composition of the rumen microbiota has changed [ 14 ]. In the current study, we noticed that the milk replacer administration had no effects on the structure and diversity of the gut bacterial community of YBGs, which may be the results of the similarity in composition and physical structure of milk replacer and breast milk without causing stress response.…”

“…Moreover, adequate starter feed and water were provided ad libitum from day 15. The nutrient composition of milk replacer and starter feed was based on our previous research [ 14 ]. Three YBGs from each group were randomly selected to sacrifice for obtaining the intestinal samples on days 15, 25, 45 and 75.…”

“…However, the quantity of YBGs is relatively small because of low fertility rate and delayed growth. Our previous research has demonstrated the ameliorative effect of milk replacers on the growth performance and rumen microbiota of YBGs [ 14 ]. However, studies regarding the influence of milk replacer on gut microbiota in YBGs have been insufficient to date.…”

Microbiome Analysis Reveals the Dynamic Alternations in Gut Microbiota of Diarrheal Giraffa camelopardalis

“…They have distinct long necks and legs, off-white skin patches separated by white-off white color, and a pair of ossicones (horn-like structure) on their head. Microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in digestion in ruminants and G. camelopardalis (2)(3)(4). This gut microbiota, particularly in the rumen, plays vital roles in gut homeostasis, host immunity, and physiology (5)(6)(7).…”