Whole-plant corn untreated (Control) or treated with an inoculant (Lentilactobacillus buchneri, Lentilactobacillus hilgardii, and Pediococcus pentosaceus, INO) was ensiled for 210 days in mini-silos at constant (MS-C) or variable temperature (MS-V) or for 220 days in bunkers. Bunker samples were collected at 50 (D50) and 150 (D150) cm below silo surface. Samples from MS-V and MS-C had similar pH and concentrations of lactic acid, propionic acid, 1,2-propanediol, and ethanol, but different acetic acid content (P = 0.009). Additionally, MS-V exhibited greater bacterial (P = 0.002) and fungal (P = 0.011) richness than MS-C. Inoculation decreased (P < 0.001) lactic acid levels while increasing (P < 0.05) acetic acid, 1,2-propanediol, and fungal richness in both mini-silos and bunker. In bunkers, samples collected from D50 had a lower aerobic stability (P < 0.05) than D150, but inoculation increased (P < 0.05) aerobic stability compared to Control, regardless of sampling depth. The storage temperature of mini-silos did not markedly impact the fermentation profile or fungal community. Overall, inoculation increased acetic acid production and fungal diversity in mini-silos, regardless of the storage temperature, and in bunkers, irrespective of sampling the depth, improving the aerobic stability of D50 and D150 bunker silages after long-term ensiling.

Probiotics may balance the hindgut environment and relieve systemic inflammation in horses fed high starch concentrates to meet energy requirements. Therefore, 30 mature Quarter Horse geldings (545 ± 58 kg BW) were used in a randomized complete design for 32-d to test the hypothesis that supplemental live Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (SC; Levucell® SC Advantage) stabilizes the intestinal environment, reduces gut permeability, and decreases inflammation when horses are fed a high starch diet. Horses were stratified by BW, age, and body condition score (BCS) and randomly assigned treatments consisting of either a concentrate formulated with 2g starch • kg BW−1 • meal−1 (CON, n = 15) or the same concentrate top-dressed with 25 g/d SC(TRT, n = 15) containing 20 billion cfu. Horses were fed individually in stalls (3 × 3 m) every 12 h. Between meals, horses were housed in adjacent dry lots with ad libitum access to Coastal bermudagrass hay and water. On d 0 and 32, BW and BCS were recorded and blood samples were collected immediately before feeding (h 0) and at h 2, 8, 16, and 24 post meal. Samples were analyzed for serum D-lactate using a colorimetric assay, chemokine (CCL2) and cytokine (TNFα) concentrations were measured using a multiplex platform, and whole blood 16s rRNA sequencing was performedusing Illumina MiSeq. Fecal samples were obtained on d 0, 16, and 32 via rectal palpation before the morning meal and at h 8, 16, and 24 post meal. Fecal pH was determined using a portable pH meter and fecal starch was measured via concentration analysis. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS v9.4. Non-normal data (CCL2) were log-transformed. From d 0 to 32 BW increased (P ≤ 0.01), independent of treatment, with no change in BCS (P = 0.97). Fecal starch was undetectable indicating nearly complete digestion of dietary starch regardless of treatment. On d 0, fecal pH declined to h 16 (P ≤ 0.01) in both groups and returned to baseline by h 24 post meal. At h 0, CON had lower fecal pH on d 32 than d 0 (P ≤ 0.01). D-lactate peaked at h 8 on d 0, and CON was greater (P ≤ 0.01) than TRT. On d 32, D-lactate tended to be higher in TRT (P = 0.10) at 16 h post meal compared with CON. LogCCL2 and TNFα declined (P ≤ 0.02) across treatments to d 32. Fold change of percent reads from d 0 in bacterial 16s rRNA was not different between treatment groups. A high starch diet initially reduced fecal pH and increased BW but after 32 d, there was no difference in intestinal inflammation or gut permeability, regardless of SC supplementation.

Background: Diets for Salmonids contain less fishmeal and more plant (and especially pulse) proteins that can impact gut microbiota, morphology, and non-specific immune system. The objective of the study was to investigate if including 10% of three different types of wheat proteins in a soy-based diet affects in the same manner gut microbiota, morphology and non-specific immune parameters of juvenile rainbow trout. Methods: Over the course of a 66 day nutrition feed trial, triplicate tanks of juvenile rainbow trout (31 fish per tank; initial weight=24.80 ± 0.31 g) were fed three experimental diets containing 10% inclusions of varying types of wheat proteins. Wheat protein inclusions, vital (VWG), hydrolysed (HWG) and a soluble hydrolysed (SWG) were incorporated into a basal feed at the expense of soy protein concentrate (SPC diet). Growth performance was monitored throughout the trial. At the end point intestinal samples were taken for microbial, molecular and histological analysis. Findings: Growth performance was unaffected by 10% dietary inclusions of wheat proteins, especially because growth already achieved high level with the SPC diet, with a feed conversion ratio of 0.99. Modulation of the allochthonous intestinal microbiota at genus level was observed, with increased proportions of Weissella in the 10% VWG treatment compared to the SPC and SWG products. Bacillus relative abundance was significant increased with 10% SWG diet. Leuconostoc was significantly higher with HWG diet. Transcription level expression of TNF-α and Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP 70) was significantly down-regulated in all wheat protein diets compared to the SPC treatment. A PCA performed on these parameters revealed that SPC diet was significantly associated with the first dimension characterised by high relative abundance of TNF-α, IL10, TGF-β, Glute ST, IL8 and HSP70; while SWG diet was negatively associated with the second dimension which was positively correlated with high relative abundance of IL8 and HSP70 and negatively correlated with relative abundance of IL10 and TGF-β. Increased Intra-epithelial leukocytes (IEL) counts and lamina propria width was observed with 10% VWG and HWG inclusion. Conclusions: All types of wheat proteins are promising plant protein source with the benefits of enhancing growth of potential beneficial bacteria in the intestine, reducing intestinal stress and potentially enhancing the non-specific immune system of rainbow trout fed with a low fishmeal, high pulse diet.

A trial was conducted to determine the effect of 6% hydrolysed wheat gluten (HWG) inclusion in a low-fishmeal diet on growth performance and intestinal microbiota and morphology of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). Fish (initial average weight of 36.3g) were allocated into floating cages (eight replicates per diet, 30 fish per cage). They were fed either a fishmeal-based diet (positive, diet code: POS; 36% fishmeal), or a diet based on a mix of animal and plant proteins (negative, diet code: NEG). The fishmeal inclusion rate in this diet was reduced to 6%, with the major protein sources being soybean meal and animal by-products. The third diet (diet code: HWG) was similar to the NEG diet with the exception that 6% HWG was included in replacement of the other proteins. At the end of the 48day trial, fish were sampled for intestinal microbiology and histology. Growth parameters were also assessed. Final body weight, SGR and daily feed intake were not significantly different across diets. However, the feeding rate was significantly affected, with the lowest rate observed in the POS treatment and the highest with the NEG treatment. The FCR was significantly lower for both POS and HWG fed fish than for the NEG fed fish. High throughput sequencing revealed that the majority of reads derived from the mucosa samples belonged to members of Proteobacteria (70.3% of the reads), Cyanobacteria (10.0%) and Firmicutes (7.6%). In the digesta reads were mainly assigned to Proteobacteria (34.5%), Fusobacteria (34.5%), and Firmicutes (22.6%). The alpha diversity did not differ among dietary treatments. Some differences in OTU relative abundances were obtained between diets, however, the overall community was not modified to a large extent by HWG. Histological appraisal revealed that the HWG fed fish exhibited significantly higher posterior intestinal perimeter ratio than that of the POS treatment. Overall, including HWG in a low fishmeal diet positively affects feed efficiency. Concomitantly the absorptive surface area of the posterior intestine was improved while the intestinal microbiota, described comprehensively here for the first time in Asian seabass, was similar to the microbiota of other healthy carnivorous marine fish species. The mechanisms involved in these changes may be related to the high glutamine content and to the high protein digestibility of HWG.

Objective: The effects of an early-life dietary supplementation with short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) on immune response and growth performance of pigs from birth to slaughter were evaluated. The hypothesis was that scFOS have long-term effects on immune response, and growth performance. Methods: One hundred and twenty-nine sows received a control diet (CTRL, 10 g/d maltodextrins) or a diet supplemented with scFOS (10 g/d) from d 109 of gestation to the weaning of the piglets. After weaning, the piglets of each litter were divided into two groups to receive the CTRL or the scFOS diet (1.2 g/d maltodextrin or scFOS) during the pre-starter period. At 53 and 74 d of age, the piglets were vaccinated against Influenza. Performance of sows and composition of colostrum were measured. Blood serum of the piglets was sampled one d prior vaccination, at d 74 and 95 to measure Influenza-IgG levels. The growth parameters of the piglets were recorded from birth to slaughter. Results: Supplementation of the sows with scFOS decreased farrowing duration (p=0.012), colostrum fat content (p=0.006) and increased IgG content in colostrum of sows with parity of 4 or higher (p=0.006) without modifying the performance of suckling piglets. Back fat thickness at weaning tended to be higher in supplemented sows (p=0.091). Diet with scFOS improved growth performance during the breeding period, resulting in reduced feeding time needed to reach a 120 kg body weight at slaughter. Piglets fed scFOS had higher Influenza-IgG titer (p=0.05) after vaccination against Influenza virus.