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Effect of age and the individual on the gastrointestinal bacteriome of ponies fed a high-starch diet.
Abstract: Bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals are crucial for the digestion of dietary nutrients. Bacterial community composition is modified by age and diet in other species. Although horses are adapted to consuming fibre-based diets, high-energy, often high-starch containing feeds are increasingly used. The current study assessed the impact of age on the faecal bacteriome of ponies transitioning from a hay-based diet to a high-starch diet. Over two years, 23 Welsh Section A pony mares were evaluated (Controls, 5-15 years, n = 6/year, 12 in total; Aged, ≥19 years, n = 6 Year 1; n = 5 Year 2, 11 in total). Across the same 30-week (May to November) period in each year, animals were randomly assigned to a 5-week period of study and were individually fed the same hay to maintenance (2% body mass as daily dry matter intake) for 4-weeks. During the final week, 2g starch per kg body mass (micronized steam-flaked barley) was incorporated into the diet (3-day transition and 5 days at maximum). Faecal samples were collected for 11 days (final 3 days hay and 8 days hay + barley feeding). Bacterial communities were determined using Ion Torrent Sequencing of amplified V1-V2 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA. Age had a minimal effect on the bacteriome response to diet. The dietary transition increased Candidatus Saccharibacteria and Firmicutes phyla abundance and reduced Fibrobactres abundance. At the genera level, Streptococcus abundance was increased but not consistently across individual animals. Bacterial diversity was reduced during dietary transition in Streptococcus 'responders'. Faecal pH and VFA concentrations were modified by diet but considerable inter-individual variation was present. The current study describes compositional changes in the faecal bacteriome associated with the transition from a fibre-based to a high-starch diet in ponies and emphasises the individual nature of dietary responses, which may reflect functional differences in the bacterial populations present in the hindgut.
Publication Date: 2020-05-08 PubMed ID: 32384105PubMed Central: PMC7209120DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232689Google 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 research investigates how age influences the digestive bacteria in ponies when their diet changes from hay-based to high-starch. The study found age had little effect on bacterial response, though diet change did influence certain types of digestive bacteria, even though the response varied among individuals.
Study Design and Methodology
- The study was conducted over two years with 23 Welsh Section A pony mares divided into two groups – Controls (5-15 years, 12 in total) and Aged (≥19 years, 11 in total).
- During a 30-week period of each year, ponies were randomly assigned a 5-week study period where they were fed hay to sustain normal body mass for 4 weeks. In the final week, 2g starch per kg body mass was incorporated into the diet.
- Faecal samples were collected for 11 days (the last 3 days of hay feeding and 8 days of hay + barley feeding).
- The bacterial communities in the faecal samples were analysed using Ion Torrent Sequencing of amplified V1-V2 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA.
Key Findings
- The effect of age on bacterial response to diet was minimal.
- The dietary transition from fibre-based to high-starch led to an increase in the abundance of Candidatus Saccharibacteria and Firmicutes phyla and a decrease in Fibrobactres abundance.
- The abundance of Streptococcus genera also increased, however, the increase was inconsistent among individual animals.
- Bacterial diversity reduced during the dietary transition in Streptococcus ‘responders’.
- The dietary change also influenced faecal pH and Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) concentrations, although there was significant inter-individual variation.
Implications
- The study provided insights into changes in the digestive bacteria of ponies transitioning from a fibre-based to high-starch diet. While age did not bear a significant effect, the diet transition did bring certain alterations in the faecal bacteriome.
- The considerable variation in digestive responses among individuals suggests the potential presence of functional differences in the bacterial populations present in the hindgut of the ponies, emphasizing the tailored approach needed for individual diet changes.
Cite This Article
APA
Morrison PK, Newbold CJ, Jones E, Worgan HJ, Grove-White DH, Dugdale AH, Barfoot C, Harris PA, Argo CM.
(2020).
Effect of age and the individual on the gastrointestinal bacteriome of ponies fed a high-starch diet.
PLoS One, 15(5), e0232689.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232689 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Scotland's Rural College, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.
- Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom.
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom.
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, England, United Kingdom.
- ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists CVS (UK) Ltd., Chester, England, United Kingdom.
- MARS Horsecare UK Ltd, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom.
- WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom.
- Scotland's Rural College, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animals
- Dietary Carbohydrates / analysis
- Dietary Carbohydrates / metabolism
- Dietary Fiber / analysis
- Dietary Fiber / metabolism
- Feces / microbiology
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome
- Glucose / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Insulin / metabolism
- Starch / analysis
- Starch / metabolism
Conflict of Interest Statement
Co-authors PH and CB are employed by the funding organization, WALTHAM (https://www.waltham.com/). Co-author AD is employed by ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists CVS Ltd. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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