Exploring the growing phase forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysis
ABSTRACT The forest musk deer (FMD) farming industry is currently experiencing rapid growth, yet the dietary energy requirements for FMD remain unclear. Therefore, we explored the optimal dietary digestible energy (DE) for growing phase FMD by providing three diets with different DE levels and analy...
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| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02352-24 |
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| author | Ruiguang Gong Xiaocao Di Xinxin Ping Haodong Han Bing Song Shuhui Wang Xianggui Dong Zhan Jun Ren |
| author_facet | Ruiguang Gong Xiaocao Di Xinxin Ping Haodong Han Bing Song Shuhui Wang Xianggui Dong Zhan Jun Ren |
| author_sort | Ruiguang Gong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The forest musk deer (FMD) farming industry is currently experiencing rapid growth, yet the dietary energy requirements for FMD remain unclear. Therefore, we explored the optimal dietary digestible energy (DE) for growing phase FMD by providing three diets with different DE levels and analyzing changes in gut microbiota. A total of 20 six-month-old FMD were used in a 62-day trial. Animals were fed either traditional feed (CON, 10.38 MJ/kg DE) or pelleted diets with low (L, 8.87 MJ/kg), medium (M, 10.38 MJ/kg), or high (H, 11.86 MJ/kg) DE levels. The results showed that feeding pelleted diets significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea (P < 0.05). The average daily gain in the H group was significantly higher than in the M group, and the M group was higher than both the L and CON groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the H group showed the highest nutrient digestibility and the greatest increase in body measurements (P < 0.05). Analysis of fecal microbiota revealed that α-diversity and the relative abundance of Firmicutes increased with higher dietary energy levels, while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased. Beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia and Lachnospira were significantly enriched in the H group. In conclusion, our findings suggest that pelleted diets are suitable for growing phase FMD, with an optimal dietary DE level of 11.86 MJ/kg.IMPORTANCEThis study underscores the significance of identifying the optimal dietary digestible energy (DE) for growing forest musk deer (FMD). Pelleted diets with a DE level of 11.86 MJ/kg enhanced growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health, while reducing diarrhea and enriching beneficial gut bacteria, offering valuable insights for improving FMD farming practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea87f6bb454c40dcb0a9acd6aa1ce3dc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea87f6bb454c40dcb0a9acd6aa1ce3dc2025-08-20T03:16:24ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-03-0113310.1128/spectrum.02352-24Exploring the growing phase forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysisRuiguang Gong0Xiaocao Di1Xinxin Ping2Haodong Han3Bing Song4Shuhui Wang5Xianggui Dong6Zhan Jun Ren7College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaABSTRACT The forest musk deer (FMD) farming industry is currently experiencing rapid growth, yet the dietary energy requirements for FMD remain unclear. Therefore, we explored the optimal dietary digestible energy (DE) for growing phase FMD by providing three diets with different DE levels and analyzing changes in gut microbiota. A total of 20 six-month-old FMD were used in a 62-day trial. Animals were fed either traditional feed (CON, 10.38 MJ/kg DE) or pelleted diets with low (L, 8.87 MJ/kg), medium (M, 10.38 MJ/kg), or high (H, 11.86 MJ/kg) DE levels. The results showed that feeding pelleted diets significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea (P < 0.05). The average daily gain in the H group was significantly higher than in the M group, and the M group was higher than both the L and CON groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the H group showed the highest nutrient digestibility and the greatest increase in body measurements (P < 0.05). Analysis of fecal microbiota revealed that α-diversity and the relative abundance of Firmicutes increased with higher dietary energy levels, while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased. Beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia and Lachnospira were significantly enriched in the H group. In conclusion, our findings suggest that pelleted diets are suitable for growing phase FMD, with an optimal dietary DE level of 11.86 MJ/kg.IMPORTANCEThis study underscores the significance of identifying the optimal dietary digestible energy (DE) for growing forest musk deer (FMD). Pelleted diets with a DE level of 11.86 MJ/kg enhanced growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health, while reducing diarrhea and enriching beneficial gut bacteria, offering valuable insights for improving FMD farming practices.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02352-24Moschus berezovskiidigestible energygrowth performancefecal microbiota16S rRNA |
| spellingShingle | Ruiguang Gong Xiaocao Di Xinxin Ping Haodong Han Bing Song Shuhui Wang Xianggui Dong Zhan Jun Ren Exploring the growing phase forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysis Microbiology Spectrum Moschus berezovskii digestible energy growth performance fecal microbiota 16S rRNA |
| title | Exploring the growing phase forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysis |
| title_full | Exploring the growing phase forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysis |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the growing phase forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the growing phase forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysis |
| title_short | Exploring the growing phase forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysis |
| title_sort | exploring the growing phase forest musk deer moschus berezovskii dietary energy requirements based on growth performance and gut microbiota analysis |
| topic | Moschus berezovskii digestible energy growth performance fecal microbiota 16S rRNA |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02352-24 |
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