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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anim Sci / Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and ferment...
Journal of animal science2021; 99(1); skaa407; doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa407

Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses.

Abstract: The effect of hay type on the microbiome of the equine gastrointestinal tract is relatively unexplored. Our objective was to characterize the cecal and fecal microbiome of mature horses consuming alfalfa or Smooth Bromegrass (brome) hay. Six cecally cannulated horses were used in a split-plot design run as a crossover in two periods. The whole plot treatment was ad libitum access to brome or alfalfa hay fed over two 21-d acclimation periods with subplots of sampling location (cecum and rectum) and sampling hour. Each acclimation period was followed by a 24-h collection period where cecal and fecal samples were collected every 3 h for analysis of pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Fecal and cecal samples were pooled and sent to a commercial lab (MR DNA, Shallowater, TX) for the amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. The main effects of hay on VFA, pH, and taxonomic abundances were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with fixed effects of hay, hour, location, period, and all possible interactions and random effect of horse. Alpha and beta diversities were analyzed using the R Dame package. Horses fed alfalfa had greater fecal than cecal pH (P ≤ 0.05), whereas horses fed brome had greater cecal than fecal pH (P ≤ 0.05). Regardless of hay type, total VFA concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the cecum than in feces, and alfalfa resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) VFA concentrations than brome in both sampling locations. Alpha diversity was greater (P ≤ 0.05) in fecal compared with cecal samples. Microbial community structure within each sampling location and hay type differed from one another (P ≤ 0.05). Bacteroidetes were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the cecum compared with the rectum, regardless of hay type. Firmicutes and Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the feces compared with cecal samples of alfalfa-fed horses. In all, fermentation parameters and bacterial abundances were impacted by hay type and sampling location in the hindgut.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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Publication Date: 2021-01-31 PubMed ID: 33515482PubMed Central: PMC7846146DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa407Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 was focused on studying the effects of feeding different types of hay (alfalfa or brome) on the composition of the microbial community in horse’s gut. Results revealed that the hay type and location of sampling (cecal or rectal) indeed impacted the parameters of fermentation and bacterial abundance in the horse’s gastrointestinal tract.

Research Design and Methods

  • Using six cecally cannulated horses, a split-plot design was adopted for the study which took place as a crossover in two distinct phases.
  • The primary factor was unrestricted access to either brome or alfalfa hay which were fed over two 21-day acclimation periods. The secondary factors were the sampling location (cecum and rectum) and the sampling hour.
  • Following each acclimation period, a 24-hour collection period took place where samples from the cecum and feces were taken every three hours. These samples were analyzed for pH levels and volatile fatty acids (VFA).
  • Fecal and cecal samples were merged and sent to a commercial lab where the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced.

Findings

  • Horses fed with alfalfa exhibited higher fecal pH levels than cecal pH levels. However, horses fed with brome showed higher cecal pH than fecal pH.
  • Regardless of the type of hay, total VFA concentrations were found to be higher in the cecum than in feces, with alfalfa causing a greater concentration of VFA than brome in both obtained samples.
  • The diversity of microbial species (Alpha diversity) was found to be greater in fecal samples than cecal samples.
  • The microbial community structure varied between each sampling location and type of hay.
  • Bacteroidetes were more abundant in the cecum compared to the rectum, irrespective of hay type. Firmicutes and the ratio of Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes were higher in the fecal samples compared to cecal samples in alfalfa-fed horses.

Conclusion

  • This research concluded that both the type of hay and sampling location in the hindgut can influence fermentation parameters and bacterial abundance.
  • This novel understanding can help in the formulation of effective dietary strategies for horses, maximizing gut health and overall performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Sorensen RJ, Drouillard JS, Douthit TL, Ran Q, Marthaler DG, Kang Q, Vahl CI, Lattimer JM. (2021). Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses. J Anim Sci, 99(1), skaa407. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa407

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 99
Issue: 1
PII: skaa407

Researcher Affiliations

Sorensen, Rachel J
  • Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Drouillard, James S
  • Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Douthit, Teresa L
  • Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Ran, Qinghong
  • Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Marthaler, Douglas G
  • Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Kang, Qing
  • Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Vahl, Christopher I
  • Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Lattimer, James M
  • Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animals
  • Cecum / metabolism
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Feces
  • Fermentation
  • Horses
  • Microbiota
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / metabolism

Grant Funding

  • Kansas State University
  • Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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