Supplementing a Clay Mineral-Based Feed Additive Modulated Fecal Microbiota Composition, Liver Health, and Lipid Serum Metabolome in Dairy Cows Fed Starch-Rich Diets

Abstract

Starch-rich diets are a commonly adopted strategy in order to sustain high milk yields in dairy cows. However, these diets are known to increase the risk of gut dysbiosis and related systemic health disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing a clay mineral-based feed additive (CM; Mycofix® Plus, BIOMIN) on fecal microbiota structure, fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) fermentation, serum metabolome, and liver health in primiparous (PP, n = 8) and multiparous (MP, n = 16) early-lactation Simmental cows (737 ± 90 kg of live body weight). Cows were randomly assigned to either a control or CM group (55 g per cow and day) and transitioned from a diet moderate in starch (26.3 ± 1.0%) to a high starch diet (32.0 ± 0.8%). Supplementation of CM reversed the decrease in bacterial diversity, richness, and evenness (p < 0.05) during high-starch diet, demonstrating that CM supplementation efficiently eased hindgut dysbiosis. The CM treatment reduced levels of Lactobacillus in PP cows during starch-rich feeding and elevated fecal pH, indicating a healthier hindgut milieu compared with that in control. Butyrate and propionate levels were modulated by CM supplementation, with butyrate being lower in CM-treated MP cows, whereas propionate was lower in MP but higher in PP cows. Supplementing CM during high-starch feeding increased the concentrations of the main primary bile salts and secondary bile acids in the serum and improved liver function in cows as indicated by reduced levels of glutamate dehydrogenase and γ-glutamyl-transferase, as well as higher serum albumin and triglyceride concentrations. These changes and those related to lipid serum metabolome were more pronounced in PP cows as also corroborated by relevance network analysis.

Dietary carbohydrate sources differently prime the microbial ecosystem but not the epithelial gene expression profile along the complete gut of young calves

“…DNA was extracted from digesta samples using the DNeasy PowerSoil Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) as described in Pacífico et al [ 10 ]. Briefly, approximately 250 mg of digesta was placed in a bead beating tube, mixed with solution C1 and then incubated at 95 °C for 5 min.…”

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“…Ca and P levels were determined to be associated with ketosis and depend on the manifestation of the disease (Pacífico et al, 2021). Blood magnesium levels did not change substantially throughout the experiment.…”

Role of Clay Substrate Molecular Interactions in Some Dairy Technology Applications

“…Reportedly, the very clay consumption by animals was found to reduce the content of some harmful isotopes, most likely by adsorption, and to visibly improve milk production [149] and even to ease some health issues related to starch metabolization in cow hindgut [150]. These beneficial effects involve reduced glutamate dehydrogenase and γ-glutamyl transferase concentration, increased serum albumin and triglyceride production [151], and more balanced milk composition with noticeable enhancement in dairy milk production [2]. Among the toxins potentially present in milk, aflatoxins are particularly toxic and lethal for humans and animals, being able to block growth and cause cancer.…”