Benefits of tributyrin on growth performance, gastrointestinal tract development, ruminal bacteria and volatile fatty acid formation of weaned Small-Tailed Han lambs

Zhiwei Li; Xueer Wang; Wei Wang; Ran An; Yaxin Wang; Qingchang Ren; Jingjing Xuan

doi:10.1016/j.aninu.2023.08.006

Benefits of tributyrin on growth performance, gastrointestinal tract development, ruminal bacteria and volatile fatty acid formation of weaned Small-Tailed Han lambs

Anim Nutr. 2023 Aug 30:15:187-196. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2023.08.006. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Zhiwei Li¹, Xueer Wang², Wei Wang¹, Ran An¹, Yaxin Wang¹, Qingchang Ren^{1

3}, Jingjing Xuan⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, China.
² College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alae, 843300, China.
³ Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation and Health, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, 233100, China.
⁴ School of Finance and Economics, Anhui Science and Technology University, Bengbu, 233030, China.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effects of tributyrin on growth performance, gastrointestinal tract development, ruminal bacteria and volatile fatty acid (VFA) formation. Thirty healthy weaned Small-Tailed Han female lambs at 3 months old with BW 27.5 ± 4.1 kg (mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to five groups of six lambs each, and each group received tributyrin at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 g/kg in feed. Weights were measured before the start and end of the study. After 15 d adaptation, DMI, feed, faeces and urine were recorded every week. Lambs were sacrificed at d 75. Compared to lambs fed no tributyrin, lambs fed 4.0 g/kg tributyrin had higher average daily BW gain (P = 0.04) and DMI (P < 0.01). Tributyrin reduced nitrogen (P < 0.01), Ca (P < 0.01) and P (P < 0.01) losses derived from faeces and urine. The mostly important, tributyrin increased dorsal sac thickness (P < 0.01), papillae length (P = 0.04) and width (P < 0.01), ventral sac papillae length (P < 0.01) and width (P < 0.01), caudodorsal blind sac thickness (P = 0.02), papillae length (P < 0.01) and width (P < 0.01). Furthermore, tributyrin increased thicknesses of both the duodenum (P < 0.01) and ileum (P = 0.01), and villus heights of the duodenum (P = 0.01), ileum (P < 0.01), jejunum (P < 0.01) and caecum (P = 0.02), but tributyrin decreased duodenal (P < 0.01) and caecal crypt depths (P < 0.01). Tributyrin reduced rumen pH (P < 0.01) while promoting total VFA concentration (P < 0.01). Tributyrin improved the structure of rumen bacteria by enhancing Clostridium (P = 0.04), Butyrivibrio (P < 0.01), Streptococcus (P = 0.04), Prevotella (P = 0.04), Ruminobacter (P = 0.02) and Fibrobacter (P = 0.03). In conclusion, tributyrin could stimulate gastrointestinal tract development by enhancing colonization of rumen VFA-producing bacteria, and dietary supplementation of tributyrin at 4.0 g/kg of DM was recommended for the weaned lambs.

Keywords: Bacteria; Gastrointestinal tract; Growth; Tributyrin; Weaned lamb.