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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1408348
This article is part of the Research Topic Animal Health and Production: Identifying Challenges and Finding a Way Forward View all 37 articles

Fermented total mixed ration enhances nutrient digestibility and modulates the milk components and fecal microbial community in lactating Holstein dairy cows

Provisionally accepted
Wang Lijun Wang Lijun 1Jun S. Jin Jun S. Jin 1Ping Wang Ping Wang 1Xinxin Li Xinxin Li 1*Chaoqi Liu Chaoqi Liu 1*Siying Sun Siying Sun 2*Wenzhuo Zhao Wenzhuo Zhao 2*Guangning Zhang Guangning Zhang 3*JUAN CHANG JUAN CHANG 4Qingqiang Yin Qingqiang Yin 1*Haiyang Zhang Haiyang Zhang 1*Qun Zhu Qun Zhu 5*
  • 1 College of animal science and technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
  • 2 Institute of International Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
  • 3 College of animal science and technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
  • 4 Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
  • 5 Henan Delin Biological products Co., Ltd., Xinxiang, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) is an effective method of preserving high-moisture byproducts with higher aerobic stability after fermentation. FTMR has the potential to fulfill the daily nutritional requirements of cattle and enhance their production performance. The objective of this research was to examine the influence of fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) on lactation performance, total tract apparent digestibility, fecal microbiota communities, and fermentation profiles in lactating dairy cows. . A total of 12 cows were randomly assigned into two groups: the TMR group and the FTMR group. The TMR group was fed a total mixed ration (TMR) diet, and the FTMR group was fed an FTMR diet. The FTMR did not impact milk yield in dairy cows despite a decrease in dry matter intake, which increased the efficiency of the feed. In contrast to that in the TMR group, the milk fat content in the FTMR group was greater. The FTMR group showed greater digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), organic matter (OM), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the total digestive tract than did the TMR group. The FTMR increased the concentration of butyrate in the fecal matter and reduced the pH of the feces. The Chao1, ACE, and Shannon indices of the archaeal community in dairy cow feces were significantly greater in those fed the FTMR than in those fed the TMR. LefSe analysis revealed higher levels of Oscillospira, Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Dehalobacterium in the feces of dairy cows fed the FTMR than in those fed the TMR. However, the abundances of Roseburia, rc4-4, Bulleidia and Sharpea exhibited the opposite trend. The abundances of Halobacteria, Halobacteriales, and Halobacteriaceae, which are biomarkers for distinguishing fecal archaea in the TMR from the FTMR, were substantially greater in the feces of dairy cows that consumed the TMR than in those that consumed the FTMR. Therefore, FTMR can improve the milk fat content, total tract apparent feed digestibility efficiency, and diversity of archaea in the feces. Additionally, this work provides a theoretical basis for the feasibility of FTMR feeding for dairy cows.

    Keywords: Fermented total mixed ration, dairy cows, Digestibility, fecal microbiota, fecal fermentation pattern

    Received: 28 Mar 2024; Accepted: 15 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Lijun, Jin, Wang, Li, Liu, Sun, Zhao, Zhang, CHANG, Yin, Zhang and Zhu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Xinxin Li, College of animal science and technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan Province, China
    Chaoqi Liu, College of animal science and technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan Province, China
    Siying Sun, Institute of International Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan Province, China
    Wenzhuo Zhao, Institute of International Education, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan Province, China
    Guangning Zhang, College of animal science and technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang Province, China
    Qingqiang Yin, College of animal science and technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan Province, China
    Haiyang Zhang, College of animal science and technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan Province, China
    Qun Zhu, Henan Delin Biological products Co., Ltd., Xinxiang, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.