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Scientific reports2021; 11(1); 5007; doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84497-y

Gut microbiota resilience in horse athletes following holidays out to pasture.

Abstract: Elite horse athletes that live in individual boxes and train and compete for hours experience long-term physical and mental stress that compromises animal welfare and alters the gut microbiota. We therefore assessed if a temporary period out to pasture with conspecifics could improve animal welfare and in turn, favorably affect intestinal microbiota composition. A total of 27 athletes were monitored before and after a period of 1.5 months out to pasture, and their fecal microbiota and behavior profiles were compared to those of 18 horses kept in individual boxes. The overall diversity and microbiota composition of pasture and control individuals were temporally similar, suggesting resilience to environmental challenges. However, pasture exposure induced an increase in Ruminococcus and Coprococcus that lasted 1-month after the return to individual boxes, which may have promoted beneficial effects on health and welfare. Associations between the gut microbiota composition and behavior indicating poor welfare were established. Furthermore, withdrawn behavior was associated with the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group and Clostridiales family XIII. Both accommodate a large part of butyrate-producing bacterial genera. While we cannot infer causality within this study, arguably, these findings suggest that management practices maintained over a longer period of time may moderate the behavior link to the gut ecosystem beyond its resilience potential.
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Publication Date: 2021-03-03 PubMed ID: 33658551PubMed Central: PMC7930273DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84497-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 examines the impact of a break from rigorous training on the gut microbiota in athletic horses and how this could influence their welfare. The study also explores the relationship between certain behaviors indicating poor welfare and the composition of the gut microbiota.

Research Methodology

  • The study observed 27 horse athletes before and after a period of 1.5 months in the pasture with their peers. This break from their usual routine of long hours of training and competition was considered as a form of respite from physical and mental stress.
  • The study also had a control group of 18 horses which were kept in individual boxes. This control group did not receive any breaks and continued with their usual routine.
  • Fecal microbiota analysis and behavior profiles of the horses were studied and compared.

Findings

  • The results demonstrated that the overall diversity and composition of the gut microbiota among horses at pasture and control horses were temporally similar, thus, suggesting resilience to changes in the environment.
  • A temporary period in the pasture led to an increase in bacteria, specifically Ruminococcus and Coprococcus, that lasted for a month even after the horses returned to individual boxes. The presence of these bacteria may have positive effects on horse health and welfare.
  • The study was able to establish links between the composition of gut microbiota and poor welfare-indicating behavior. Withdrawn behavior was associated with increased relative abundance of certain types of bacteria such as Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group and Clostridiales family XIII, which accommodate a large part of butyrate-producing bacterial genera. Butyrate-producing bacteria are known to contribute to gut health.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The findings may imply that extended periods of intensive management practices can potentially impact horse behavior and the gut microbiota. While the gut microbiota showed resilience to short-term changes, long-term changes in management practices could have a more profound effect.
  • However, the study did not establish a causal link between gut microbiota diversity and horse behavior, only an association, thus more research is needed to investigate this relationship further.

Cite This Article

APA
Mach N, Lansade L, Bars-Cortina D, Dhorne-Pollet S, Foury A, Moisan MP, Ruet A. (2021). Gut microbiota resilience in horse athletes following holidays out to pasture. Sci Rep, 11(1), 5007. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84497-y

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Pages: 5007
PII: 5007

Researcher Affiliations

Mach, Núria
  • Animal Genetic and Integrative Biology, University of Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AGroParisTech, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France. nuria.mach@inrae.fr.
Lansade, Léa
  • PRC, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, University of Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
Bars-Cortina, David
  • Medicine Department, University of Lleida, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
Dhorne-Pollet, Sophie
  • Animal Genetic and Integrative Biology, University of Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AGroParisTech, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Foury, Aline
  • University of Bordeaux, INRAE, NutriNeuro UMR 1286, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
Moisan, Marie-Pierre
  • University of Bordeaux, INRAE, NutriNeuro UMR 1286, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
Ruet, Alice
  • PRC, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, University of Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Animal Welfare / ethics
  • Animals
  • Bacteroidetes / classification
  • Bacteroidetes / genetics
  • Bacteroidetes / isolation & purification
  • Biodiversity
  • Butyrates / metabolism
  • Clostridiales / classification
  • Clostridiales / genetics
  • Clostridiales / isolation & purification
  • Competitive Behavior / physiology
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Fibrobacteres / classification
  • Fibrobacteres / genetics
  • Fibrobacteres / isolation & purification
  • Firmicutes / classification
  • Firmicutes / genetics
  • Firmicutes / isolation & purification
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horses / psychology
  • Male
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Spirochaetales / classification
  • Spirochaetales / genetics
  • Spirochaetales / isolation & purification
  • Sports
  • Stress, Physiological

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

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