College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk Production, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830052, China.
College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830052, China.
J Anim Sci. 2023 Jan 3;101. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad232.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of ellagic acid (EA) supplementation on body weight (BW), nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, blood biochemical indices, and urolithin A metabolism in 1-yr-old Thoroughbred horses. A group of 18 1-yr-old Thoroughbred horses, with an average weight of 339.00 ± 30.11 kg, were randomly allocated into three groups of six horses each (three males and three females). The control group (n = 6) received only the basal diet, whereas test groups I (n = 6) and II (n = 6) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 15 mg/kg BW/d and 30 mg/kg BW/d of EA, respectively, for 40-d. The results showed that test group I and II horses had a significant increase in total weight gain by 49.47% and 62.74%, respectively, compared to the control group. The digestibility of various components in the diets of the test group horses was improved, including dry matter, organic matter, gross energy, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and calcium. Additionally, the digestibility of crude protein and phosphorus (P) in test group II horses increased significantly by 10.96% and 33.56% (P < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, EA supplementation significantly increased the fecal abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes (P < 0.05), Fibrobacterota, p-251-o5, Desemzia incerta (P < 0.05), and Fibrobacter sp. (P < 0.05), while reducing the abundance of Proteobacteria, Pseudomonadaceae, Pseudomonas, and Cupriavidus pauculus (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Fecal samples from test group II showed 89.47%, 100%, and 86.15% increases in the concentrations of acetic acid, valeric acid, and total volatile fatty acids, respectively. In addition, the plasma levels of total protein, and globulin increased significantly in test groups I (7.88% and 11.35%, respectively) and II (13.44% and 16.07%, respectively) compared to those in the control group (P < 0.05). The concentration of urolithin A in fecal and urine samples was positively correlated with increasing doses of EA. These findings suggest that supplemental feeding of EA improved nutrient digestibility, blood biochemical indices, and fecal microbiota in 1-yr-old Thoroughbred horses, promoting growth and development.
本研究旨在探讨鞣花酸（EA）补充对 1 岁纯种马体重（BW）、养分消化率、粪便微生物群、血液生化指标和尿石素 A 代谢的影响。将 18 匹 1 岁的纯种马，平均体重 339.00 ± 30.11 kg，随机分为三组，每组 6 匹马（3 雄 3 雌）。对照组（n=6）仅接受基础日粮，而试验组 I（n=6）和 II（n=6）分别用 15 和 30 mg/kg BW/d 的 EA 补充基础日粮，共 40 天。结果表明，与对照组相比，试验组 I 和 II 的总增重分别显著增加了 49.47%和 62.74%。试验组马日粮中各成分的消化率提高，包括干物质、有机物、总能、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维和钙。此外，试验组 II 马的粗蛋白和磷（P）消化率分别显著提高了 10.96%和 33.56%（P<0.05）。此外，EA 补充显著增加了粪便厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门（P<0.05）、纤维杆菌门、p-251-o5、Desemzia incerta（P<0.05）和 Fibrobacter sp.（P<0.05）的丰度，同时降低了变形菌门、假单胞菌科、假单胞菌和 Cupriavidus pauculus 的丰度（P<0.05 或 P<0.01）。试验组 II 的粪便样本中乙酸、戊酸和总挥发性脂肪酸的浓度分别增加了 89.47%、100%和 86.15%。此外，与对照组相比，试验组 I（分别为 7.88%和 11.35%）和 II（分别为 13.44%和 16.07%）的血浆总蛋白和球蛋白水平显著升高（P<0.05）。粪便和尿液样本中尿石素 A 的浓度与 EA 补充剂量呈正相关。这些发现表明，EA 的补充喂养提高了 1 岁纯种马的养分消化率、血液生化指标和粪便微生物群，促进了生长发育。
