Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age

Animal Microbiome

Research

Yacine Lebbaoui¹  Frédérique Chaucheyras-Durand¹  Lysiane Dunière¹  Laurie Guillot¹  Mickael Bernard²  Philippe Ruiz³  Evelyne Forano³ 

[1] Lallemand SAS, CEDEX, BP 59, 19 rue des Briquetiers, 31702, Blagnac, France;Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UMR 454 MEDIS (Microbiologie Environnement Digestif et Santé), 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France;UE 1414 (Unité Expérimentale), INRAE, 63122, Herbipôle, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France;Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UMR 454 MEDIS (Microbiologie Environnement Digestif et Santé), 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France;

关键词: Microbiota;    Rumen;    Feces;    Artificial rearing;    Lambs;    IgG;    ADG;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42523-023-00255-7

 received in 2022-11-15, accepted in 2023-07-08,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundArtificial rearing system, commonly used in prolific sheep breeds, is associated to increased mortality and morbidity rates before weaning, which might be linked to perturbations in digestive tract maturation, including microbiota colonization. This study evaluated the effect of rearing mode (mothered or artificially reared) on the establishment of the rumen and intestinal microbiome of lambs from birth to weaning. We also measured immunological and zootechnical parameters to assess lambs’ growth and health. GIT anatomy as well as rumen and intestinal epithelium gene expression were also analysed on weaned animals to assess possible long-term effects of the rearing practice.ResultsTotal VFA concentrations were higher in mothered lambs at 2 months of age, while artificially-reared lambs had lower average daily gain, a more degraded sanitary status and lower serum IgG concentration in the early growth phase. Metataxonomic analysis revealed higher richness of bacterial and eukaryote populations in mothered vs. artificially-reared lambs in both Rumen and Feces. Beta diversity analysis indicated an evolution of rumen and fecal bacterial communities in mothered lambs with age, not observed in artificially-reared lambs. Important functional microorganisms such as the cellulolytic bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes and rumen protozoa did not establish correctly before weaning in artificially-reared lambs. Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli were dominant in the fecal microbiota of mothered lambs, but main E. coli virulence genes were not found differential between the two groups, suggesting they are commensal bacteria which could exert a protective effect against pathogens. The fecal microbiota of artificially-reared lambs had a high proportion of lactic acid bacteria taxa. No difference was observed in mucosa gene expression in the two lamb groups after weaning.ConclusionsThe rearing mode influences gastrointestinal microbiota and health-associated parameters in offspring in early life: rumen maturation was impaired in artificially-reared lambs which also presented altered sanitary status and higher risk of gut dysbiosis. The first month of age is thus a critical period where the gastrointestinal tract environment and microbiota are particularly unstable and special care should be taken in the management of artificially fed newborn ruminants.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

12938_2023_1137_Article_IEq68.gif

40517_2023_267_Article_IEq8.gif

Fig. 1

40798_2023_622_Article_IEq6.gif

Fig. 1

Fig. 3