Short communication: Does early-life administration of a Megasphaera elsdenii probiotic affect long-term establishment of the organism in the rumen and alter rumen metabolism in the dairy calf?

Abstract

Megasphaera elsdenii is a bacterial species of the rumen that can utilize lactate to produce butyrate, a key volatile fatty acid often implicated in driving calf rumen development. Because lactate is abundant in the rumen of young calves, administration of M. elsdenii to increase butyrate production and thus promote calf rumen development is an appealing possibility. The main objective of this study was to determine whether M. elsdenii administration to calves via oral drench at 14 d of age affected its long-term establishment at 70 d postadministration. Ruminal volatile fatty acid and lactate profiles and blood glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were also examined to determine potential influence on rumen metabolism. Six neonatal Holstein heifer calves were blocked on d 1 by body weight (41.3 ± 1.8 kg) and total serum protein (5.23 ± 0.16 g/dL) and assigned to either the M. elsdenii (n = 3) or control (n = 3) treatment groups. On d 14, calves in the M. elsdenii group orally received 25 mL of a commercially available M. elsdenii suspension, whereas calves in the control group received 25 mL of the same product that had been autoclaved. Rumen contents and blood samples were collected weekly from each animal until 84 d of age. The oral administration of M. elsdenii at 14 d did not increase the abundance of M. elsdenii 70 d postdosing, alter rumen fermentation, or change blood metabolites associated with butyrate. These results suggest that a single administration of the M. elsdenii probiotic may not affect the rumen establishment of the organism.

Megasphaera elsdenii: Its Role in Ruminant Nutrition and Its Potential Industrial Application for Organic Acid Biosynthesis

“…Table 3 presents M. elsdenii abundance in the rumen of animals determined through these culture-independent methods [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Relative abundance (RA) in the rumen is typically well under 1% of the total bacteria, except in animals experiencing metabolic or production problems, particularly milk fat depression.…”

“…Muya et al [ 109 ] found that M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 dosed at 14 days of age increased ruminal butyrate and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and also improved both the intake of starter feed and ruminal development (measured as an increase in the absorptive area) compared with non-dosed calves. In the second study [ 41 ], Lactipro ® (2 × 10 8 cfu/mL of M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125) was administered to dairy calves and, although M. elsdenii shifted the abundance of certain less abundant bacteria, there was no increase in M. elsdenii abundance as well as no effect on ruminal and blood parameters.…”

Compound probiotics microcapsules improve milk yield and milk quality of dairy cows by regulating intestinal flora

“…In addition, yeast products exhibit properties such as regulating intestinal balance, improving immunity, and enhancing animal production performance (Lu et al, 2022). Studies have shown that S. boulardii can maintain the micro-ecological balance of the rumen, thereby increasing milk yield and milk fat content in dairy cows (Yohe et al, 2018). There are currently many reports on the use of yeast and B. coagulans in livestock and poultry production.…”

Colonization and establishment of the rumen microbiota – opportunities to influence productivity and methane emissions

“…Muya et al (2015) showed improved feed intake and rumen development, suggesting increased epithelium metabolism and improved absorption of digestive end products. Whereas, no effect was observed in another study using the same strain and a similar protocol (Yohe et al, 2018).…”

“…Similarly, the best window(s) of age when the microbiota could be modulated have to be refined. Establishment of different populations might not be a single isolated event and a continuous exposure seems to be necessary for acquiring adult-like communities (Morgavi et al, 2015) or successfully engraft specific microbes (Yohe et al, 2018). A better definition of the role of early microbial communities on the host-microbiota dialogue and the regulation of the immune system is also important for this subject.…”