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Tannic Acid-Steeped Corn Grain Modulates in vitro Ruminal Fermentation Pattern and Microbial Metabolic Pathways
F F Zhao1,2,3, X Z Zhang1,2, Y Zhang1,2
1Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|November 15, 2021
Summary
Tannic acid-treated corn altered goat rumen fermentation by increasing pH and acetate while decreasing total volatile fatty acids. This treatment also shifted bacterial communities and reduced starch utilization, potentially preventing ruminal acidosis.
Area of Science:
- Rumen microbiology and fermentation science.
- Animal nutrition and feed science.
- Gastrointestinal tract microbial ecology.
Background:
- Ruminal acidosis is a common metabolic disorder in ruminants, often caused by high concentrate diets.
- Modulating rumen fermentation and microbial composition is crucial for improving animal health and productivity.
- Tannins, like tannic acid (TA), are plant compounds with potential to alter rumen function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro effects of tannic acid-treated corn on ruminal fermentation parameters.
- To analyze the impact of TA-treated corn on the composition and function of the ruminal bacterial community.
- To assess the potential of TA-treated corn in preventing ruminal acidosis.
Main Methods:
- In vitro batch culture system using rumen fluid from goats fed a 60:40 forage/concentrate diet.
- Corn treated with varying concentrations of tannic acid (TA) solutions (0, 15, 25, 35 g/l).
- Analysis of ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and bacterial community structure (Illumina MiSeq sequencing).
Main Results:
- TA-treated corn linearly increased ruminal pH and acetate proportion, but decreased total VFAs and butyrate proportion.
- Principal coordinates analysis showed distinct bacterial community structures between control and TA-treated groups.
- TA treatment linearly enriched Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group while reducing Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, Ruminococcus_2, and unclassified_o__Clostridiales.
- Functional prediction indicated a linear decrease in starch utilization via pyruvate metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Tannic acid-treated corn effectively modulates rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial composition in vitro.
- The observed changes suggest a potential mechanism for preventing ruminal acidosis by altering microbial metabolism.
- Further in vivo studies are warranted to confirm the efficacy of TA-treated corn in ruminant nutrition.
Keywords:
high-throughput sequencingrumen acidosisrumen fermentation characteristicsruminal microbiotatannic acid treated corn
