Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak Calves

To evaluate the impact of different roughages on the intestinal microbiota of yak calves, we fed them oat hay in substitution of alfalfa hay, in addition to milk replacer and starter powder. Twenty-one 45-day-old male yak calves were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: the milk replacer...

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Main Authors: Yingchao Gu, Lele An, Yanan Zhou, Guoliang Xue, Yang Jiao, Deyu Yang, Shujie Liu, Zhanhong Cui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/22/3329
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author Yingchao Gu
Lele An
Yanan Zhou
Guoliang Xue
Yang Jiao
Deyu Yang
Shujie Liu
Zhanhong Cui
author_facet Yingchao Gu
Lele An
Yanan Zhou
Guoliang Xue
Yang Jiao
Deyu Yang
Shujie Liu
Zhanhong Cui
author_sort Yingchao Gu
collection DOAJ
description To evaluate the impact of different roughages on the intestinal microbiota of yak calves, we fed them oat hay in substitution of alfalfa hay, in addition to milk replacer and starter powder. Twenty-one 45-day-old male yak calves were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: the milk replacer + starter + alfalfa hay group (AH), the milk replacer + starter + oat hay group (OH), and the milk replacer + starter + mixed hay group (AO), in which the alfalfa hay and oat hay were administered in a 1:1 ratio. All calves in the three groups were fed the same milk replacer and an equivalent amount of dry matter. The formal experiment commenced after a 21-day pre-test period and lasted for 120 days. Following the experiment, the contents of the jejunum and colon were collected to investigate the intestinal microbiota and metabolites using 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS metabolomics. The result showed that the AO group had greater final body weights overall than the AH group and OH group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The AH group and OH group had considerably greater feed-to-gain ratios than the AO group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). At the phylum level, the OH group exhibited an increased relative abundance of <i>Bacteroidota</i> and <i>Spirochaetota</i> in the jejunum (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The relative abundance of <i>Actinobacteriota</i> in the colon was increased in the AO group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). At the genus level, the AO group exhibited a decreased abundance of <i>Clostridium sensu_stricto_1</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and the OH group showed an increased abundance <i>UCG-005</i> and <i>Alistipes</i> in the jejunum. There were many differential metabolites in the OH group and AO group compared to the AH group, and the different metabolites of the OH group were associated with the metabolic pathways of the nervous system, sensory system, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism in the jejunum and with lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the nervous system in the colon. In the AO group, these metabolites were associated with the digestive system and the translation and metabolism of cofactors in the jejunum and with the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins in the colon. In summary, it is feasible to replace alfalfa hay with oat hay based on milk replacer and starter. The combination of the two forages enhanced nutrient absorption, improved immune function, maintained the internal homeostasis of yak calves, and was more beneficial to their growth and development.
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spelling doaj-art-0ba95205cfda4fe494a2706e2be208cc2025-08-20T02:26:45ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-11-011422332910.3390/ani14223329Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak CalvesYingchao Gu0Lele An1Yanan Zhou2Guoliang Xue3Yang Jiao4Deyu Yang5Shujie Liu6Zhanhong Cui7Qinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaTo evaluate the impact of different roughages on the intestinal microbiota of yak calves, we fed them oat hay in substitution of alfalfa hay, in addition to milk replacer and starter powder. Twenty-one 45-day-old male yak calves were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: the milk replacer + starter + alfalfa hay group (AH), the milk replacer + starter + oat hay group (OH), and the milk replacer + starter + mixed hay group (AO), in which the alfalfa hay and oat hay were administered in a 1:1 ratio. All calves in the three groups were fed the same milk replacer and an equivalent amount of dry matter. The formal experiment commenced after a 21-day pre-test period and lasted for 120 days. Following the experiment, the contents of the jejunum and colon were collected to investigate the intestinal microbiota and metabolites using 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS metabolomics. The result showed that the AO group had greater final body weights overall than the AH group and OH group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The AH group and OH group had considerably greater feed-to-gain ratios than the AO group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). At the phylum level, the OH group exhibited an increased relative abundance of <i>Bacteroidota</i> and <i>Spirochaetota</i> in the jejunum (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The relative abundance of <i>Actinobacteriota</i> in the colon was increased in the AO group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). At the genus level, the AO group exhibited a decreased abundance of <i>Clostridium sensu_stricto_1</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and the OH group showed an increased abundance <i>UCG-005</i> and <i>Alistipes</i> in the jejunum. There were many differential metabolites in the OH group and AO group compared to the AH group, and the different metabolites of the OH group were associated with the metabolic pathways of the nervous system, sensory system, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism in the jejunum and with lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the nervous system in the colon. In the AO group, these metabolites were associated with the digestive system and the translation and metabolism of cofactors in the jejunum and with the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins in the colon. In summary, it is feasible to replace alfalfa hay with oat hay based on milk replacer and starter. The combination of the two forages enhanced nutrient absorption, improved immune function, maintained the internal homeostasis of yak calves, and was more beneficial to their growth and development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/22/3329jejunumcolonmicrobiological compositiondifferential metabolites
spellingShingle Yingchao Gu
Lele An
Yanan Zhou
Guoliang Xue
Yang Jiao
Deyu Yang
Shujie Liu
Zhanhong Cui
Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak Calves
Animals
jejunum
colon
microbiological composition
differential metabolites
title Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak Calves
title_full Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak Calves
title_fullStr Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak Calves
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak Calves
title_short Effect of Oat Hay as a Substitute for Alfalfa Hay on the Gut Microbiome and Metabolites of Yak Calves
title_sort effect of oat hay as a substitute for alfalfa hay on the gut microbiome and metabolites of yak calves
topic jejunum
colon
microbiological composition
differential metabolites
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/22/3329
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