Growth and bacterial dynamics of beef calves during transition from milk/pasture to a high-concentrate diet added with tannins or medium-chain fatty acids

Yuste S. ; Amanzougarene Z. ; de la Fuente G. ; Fondevila M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; de Vega A. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Context. Rumen fermentation modulation with feed additives during the transition period to high-concentrate diets might help to avoid bacterial dysbiosis. Aims. Assessing the effects of the addition of tannins and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) to the adaptation diet of beef calves to a high-concentrate ration on the rate of intake, animal performance and rumen bacterial composition. Methods. Eighteen 7-month-old beef calves were abruptly weaned and transitioned over a 28-day period from a milk/grass regime to one of the following diets: a non-supplemented high-concentrate diet plus wheat straw, both given ad libitum (C); C plus 20 g/kg of a 65:35 chestnut and quebracho tannin extract; and C plus 6 g/kg of a commercial mixture of MCFA. Concentrate and straw rate of intake were recorded. Rumen fluid was collected on Days 0, 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 0, 3, 6 and 9 h after feeding to characterise rumen fermentation. Samples from 0 h were analysed to assess the bacterial population using Ion Torrent sequencing. Key results. The rate of intake of concentrates and straw, as well as daily gains and final weights, were similar (P > 0.05) among diets. The addition of tannins or MCFA did not modify (P = 0.98) the rumen bacterial population, which was affected by sampling day (P < 0.001). The additives inclusion did not affect relative abundances of the main bacterial taxa (P < 0.05), most of them differing across days (P < 0.001). Diversity indexes (Shannon and richness) declined over sampling days (P < 0.05), although some genera emerged after concentrate inclusion. Conclusions. At the doses used in the present experiment, tannins and MCFA did not exert any effect on intake, animal performance and bacterial population. Abrupt transition to high-concentrate diets modified the rumen environment and bacterial community, indicating bacterial adaptation to new environmental conditions. Implications. Abrupt transition of 7-month-old calves from milk/pasture to a high-concentrate diet did not impair rumen microbiota or performance; therefore, the use of feed additives seems unnecessary. © 2021 CSIRO. All rights reserved.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1071/AN21043

Año: 2021

Publicado en: Animal Production Science 61, 12 (2021), 1213-1223
ISSN: 1836-0939

Factor impacto JCR: 1.57 (2021)

Categ. JCR: AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE rank: 38 / 62 = 0.613 (2021) - Q3 - T2

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 3.1 - Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.439 - Food Science (Q2) - Animal Science and Zoology (Q2)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO-DGA-FSE/AGL2013-46820

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Producción Animal (Dpto. Produc.Animal Cienc.Ali.)