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Bacterial carbohydrate-degrading capacity in foal faeces: changes from birth to pre-weaning and the impact of maternal supplementation with fermented feed products.
Abstract: The present study aimed at (1) describing age-related changes in faecal bacterial functional groups involved in carbohydrate degradation and in their activities in foals (n 10) from birth (day (d) 0) to 6 months (d180) and (2) investigating the effect of maternal supplementation (five mares per treatment) from d - 45 to d60 with fermented feed products on response trends over time of the foal bacterial carbohydratedegrading capacity. Maternal supplementation with fermented feed products stimulated foal growth from d0 to d60 and had an impact on the establishment of some digestive bacterial groups and their activities in foals from d0 to d5 but not in the longer term. Irrespective of the maternal treatment, total bacteria, total anaerobic, lactate-utilising and amylolytic bacteria were established immediately after birth (P<0·05) and were active as shown by the significant increase in total volatile fatty acids. In the foals of supplemented mares, total anaerobes and lactate utilisers were established rapidly between d0 and d2 (P=0·021 and 0·066, respectively) and the increase in the percentage of propionate occurred earlier (P=0·013). Maternal supplementation had no effect on the establishment of fibrolytic bacteria and their activity. Cellulolytic bacteria and Fibrobacter succinogenes first appeared at d2 and d5, and increased progressively, reaching stable values at d30 and d60, respectively. From the second week of life, the increase in the molar percentage of acetate and the ratio (acetate + butyrate):propionate (P<0·05) suggested that fibrolytic activity had begun. From d60, only minor changes in bacterial composition and activities occurred, showing that the bacterial carbohydrate-degrading capacity was established at 2 months of age.
Publication Date: 2013-02-07 PubMed ID: 23388384DOI: 10.1017/S0007114512006162Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates the changes in the bacterial capacity to break down carbohydrates in foal feces from birth to pre-weaning, and how maternal supplementation with fermented feed products influences these changes. The findings reveal that supplementation boosts early growth and impacts some digestive bacterial groups, but has no long-term effect and does not impact fibrolytic bacteria.
Objective and Methodology
- The research’s objective was to examine the changes in the bacterial functional groups that degrade carbohydrates in foal feces from birth to six months. Additionally, it investigated the effect of supplementing the mother’s diet with fermented feed products from 45 days before to 60 days after birth on the development of the foal’s bacterial carbohydrate-degrading capacity.
- The study utilized 10 foals, and treatments involved giving their mothers fermented feed products; five mares were given the treatment.
Key Findings
- It was established that the mother’s supplementation with fermented feed products stimulated foal growth from birth up until 2 months old. Moreover, it influenced the establishment of some digestive bacterial groups and their activities from birth to 5 days old. However, it had no long-term impact.
- The total bacteria, total anaerobic, lactate-utilising, and amylolytic bacteria were active and established immediately after the foal’s birth, irrespective of the mother’s supplementation.
- On supplementation, total anaerobes and lactate utilisers were established quickly between birth and the second day. Additionally, the proportion of propionate increased earlier. However, the mother’s supplementation had no effect on the establishment and activity of fibrolytic bacteria.
- Cellulolytic bacteria and Fibrobacter succinogenes first emerged at day 2 and 5, growing progressively and attaining stable levels at day 30 and 60, respectively.
- The study observed an increase in the molar percentage of acetate and the ratio of (acetate+butyrate): propionate from the second week of life. This increase pointed to a commencement of fibrolytic activity.
- From the 60th day, negligible changes in bacterial composition and activities were reported. This suggests that the bacterial carbohydrate-degrading capacity had fully established by the age of two months.
Cite This Article
APA
Faubladier C, Julliand V, Danel J, Philippeau C.
(2013).
Bacterial carbohydrate-degrading capacity in foal faeces: changes from birth to pre-weaning and the impact of maternal supplementation with fermented feed products.
Br J Nutr, 110(6), 1040-1052.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114512006162 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- AgroSup Dijon, URANIE - USC INRA Nutrition du cheval athlète, 21079 Dijon, France.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / metabolism
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bacteria / metabolism
- Carbohydrate Metabolism / physiology
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Supplements
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Fermentation
- Horses / microbiology
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Pyles M, Agbana M, Hayes S, Flythe M, Lawrence L. The Establishment of Fibrolytic Bacteria in the Foal Gastrointestinal Tract Is Related to the Occurrence of Coprophagy by Foals. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 26;13(17).
- Di Pietro R, Arroyo LG, Leclere M, Costa M. Effects of concentrated fecal microbiota transplant on the equine fecal microbiota after antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Can J Vet Res 2023 Apr;87(2):85-96.
- Wang Q, Zeng X, Zeng Y, Liu X, Wang Y, Wang X, Li J, Wang Y, Feng Z, Huang P, Yin J, Huang J, Zhu M, Yang H. Effects of Phragmites australis Shoot Remainder Silage on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemical Parameters, and Rumen Microbiota of Beef Cattle. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:778654.
- Artiles-Ortega E, Portal O, Jeyanathan J, Reguera-Barreto B, de la Fé-Rodríguez PY, Lima-Orozco R, Fievez V. Performance, Rumen Microbial Community and Immune Status of Goat Kids Fed Leucaena leucocephala Post-weaning as Affected by Prenatal and Early Life Nutritional Interventions. Front Microbiol 2021;12:769438.
- Pyles MB, Fowler AL, Bill VT, Harlow BE, Crum AD, Hayes SH, Flythe MD, Lawrence LM. Effect of maternal diet on select fecal bacteria of foals. Transl Anim Sci 2019 Jan;3(1):204-211.
- Wang Y, Shen Q, Zhong S, Chen Y, Yang Y. Comparison of Rumen Microbiota and Serum Biochemical Indices in White Cashmere Goats Fed Ensiled or Sun-Dried Mulberry Leaves. Microorganisms 2020 Jun 30;8(7).
- Lv X, Cui K, Qi M, Wang S, Diao Q, Zhang N. Ruminal Microbiota and Fermentation in Response to Dietary Protein and Energy Levels in Weaned Lambs. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jan 9;10(1).
- Mach N, Foury A, Kittelmann S, Reigner F, Moroldo M, Ballester M, Esquerré D, Rivière J, Sallé G, Gérard P, Moisan MP, Lansade L. The Effects of Weaning Methods on Gut Microbiota Composition and Horse Physiology. Front Physiol 2017;8:535.
- Harlow BE, Lawrence LM, Harris PA, Aiken GE, Flythe MD. Exogenous lactobacilli mitigate microbial changes associated with grain fermentation (corn, oats, and wheat) by equine fecal microflora ex vivo. PLoS One 2017;12(3):e0174059.
- Wang W, Li C, Li F, Wang X, Zhang X, Liu T, Nian F, Yue X, Li F, Pan X, La Y, Mo F, Wang F, Li B. Effects of early feeding on the host rumen transcriptome and bacterial diversity in lambs. Sci Rep 2016 Aug 31;6:32479.
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- Huang X, Li Q, Li X, Li C, Li J, He L, Jing H, Yang F, Li X. Effects of different grain types on nutrient apparent digestibility, glycemic responses, and fecal VFA content in weaned foals. BMC Vet Res 2025 Apr 14;21(1):273.
- Mady EA, Osuga H, Toyama H, El-Husseiny HM, Inoue R, Murase H, Yamamoto Y, Nagaoka K. Relationship between the components of mare breast milk and foal gut microbiome: shaping gut microbiome development after birth. Vet Q 2024 Dec;44(1):1-9.
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