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PloS one2016; 11(4); e0154037; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154037

Effect of Dietary Starch Source and Concentration on Equine Fecal Microbiota.

Abstract: Starch from corn is less susceptible to equine small intestinal digestion than starch from oats, and starch that reaches the hindgut can be utilized by the microbiota. The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of starch source on equine fecal microbiota. Thirty horses were assigned to treatments: control (hay only), HC (high corn), HO (high oats), LC (low corn), LO (low oats), and LW (low pelleted wheat middlings). Horses received an all-forage diet (2 wk; d -14 to d -1) before the treatment diets (2 wk; d 1 to 14). Starch was introduced gradually so that horses received 50% of the assigned starch amount (high = 2 g starch/kg BW; low = 1 g starch/kg BW) by d 4 and 100% by d 11. Fecal samples were obtained at the end of the forage-only period (S0; d -2), and on d 6 (S1) and d 13 (S2) of the treatment period. Cellulolytics, lactobacilli, Group D Gram-positive cocci (GPC), lactate-utilizers and amylolytics were enumerated. Enumeration data were log transformed and analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. There were sample day × treatment interactions (P 0.05). All treatments except LO resulted in increased amylolytics and decreased cellulolytics, but the changes were larger in horses fed corn and wheat middlings (P < 0.05). Feeding oats resulted in increased lactobacilli and decreased GPC (P < 0.05), while corn had the opposite effects. LW had increased lactobacilli and GPC (P < 0.05). The predominant amylolytic isolates from HC, LC and LW on S2 were identified by 16S RNA gene sequencing as Enterococcus faecalis, but other species were found in oat fed horses. These results demonstrate that starch source can have a differential effect on the equine fecal microbiota.
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Publication Date: 2016-04-29 PubMed ID: 27128793PubMed Central: PMC4851386DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154037Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research studied the impact of different sources of dietary starch on the type of bacteria found in horse feces. The study showed that the source of starch in a horse’s diet can influence its gut microbiota, with corn and wheat middlings leading to larger changes than oats.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study was aimed at understanding the effect of dietary starch sourced from corn, oats and wheat middlings on the fecal microbiota of equines.
  • Thirty horses were divided into six groups: control (hay only), high corn (HC), high oats (HO), low corn (LC), low oats (LO), and low pelleted wheat middlings (LW).
  • All horses were initially fed an all-forage diet for two weeks, after which each group received a set amount of starch from the assigned source for another two weeks. The starch was introduced gradually, reaching half and full amounts on day four and day eleven respectively.
  • Fecal samples were collected prior to the start of the starch diet and then on days six and thirteen. The bacterial colonies present in the fecal matter were then calculated.
  • The bacteria observed included Cellulolytics, lactobacilli, Gram-positive cocci, lactate-utilizers and amylolytics. Their presence was analyzed statistically.

Findings

  • The study found significant variations in the fecal microbiota based on the type and amount of starch the horses were fed, and the day the fecal sample was taken.
  • None of the treatments caused any changes in the control group.
  • Amylolytics (starch-digesting bacteria) increased and cellulolytics (fiber-digesting bacteria) decreased in all starch-fed groups, except for the ones receiving low oats. The changes were notably larger in the corn and wheat middlings groups.
  • Fecal microbiota changed with increased lactobacilli and decreased Gram-positive cocci when oats were fed, while the opposite changes were observed with a corn diet. Wheat middlings resulted in increased counts of both lactobacilli and Gram-positive cocci.
  • The prevalent amylolytic bacteria found in HC, LC, and LW on day thirteen were identified as Enterococcus faecalis, with other bacteria species found in oat-fed horses.

Conclusion

  • The source of dietary starch can significantly affect the microbial population of the horse’s gut, suggesting potential differences in how the horse digests and utilizes the nutrients from these different starch sources.
  • While both corn and oats affected the gut microbial population, the effects varied, implying distinct metabolic pathways in the digestion or utilization processes.
  • Further research into these differential effects can help in optimizing equine health and diet planning.

Cite This Article

APA
Harlow BE, Lawrence LM, Hayes SH, Crum A, Flythe MD. (2016). Effect of Dietary Starch Source and Concentration on Equine Fecal Microbiota. PLoS One, 11(4), e0154037. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154037

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 4
Pages: e0154037
PII: e0154037

Researcher Affiliations

Harlow, Brittany E
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, United States of America.
Lawrence, Laurie M
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, United States of America.
Hayes, Susan H
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, United States of America.
Crum, Andrea
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, United States of America.
Flythe, Michael D
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, United States of America.
  • Forage Animal Production Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Lexington, KY, 40546, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Microbiota
  • Starch / administration & dosage

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 26 times.
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