Dietary supplementation with mulberry leaf flavonoids inhibits methanogenesis in sheep.
The effects of flavonoids on methanogenesis and microbial flora in Dorper × thin-tailed Han crossbred ewes were evaluated in two experiments. To investigate the effects of flavonoids on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance, 18 ewes (60.0 ± 1.73 kg body weight (BW)) were allotted to two dietary treatments in experiment one, a control diet and the control diet supplemented with flavonoids (2 g/head/day). In experiment two, the effects of supplementary flavonoids on ruminal fermentation and microbial flora were investigated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction with six ewes (67.2 ± 0.79 kg BW) with ruminal cannula assigned to the identical dietary treatments used in experiment one. Supplementary flavonoids improved the apparent digestibility of nitrogen (N, P < 0.001) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF, P = 0.024) and decreased daily CH4output (P < 0.001). The ruminal pH (P = 0.638) and ammonia (P = 0.690) were not affected by supplementary flavonoids, whereas the total volatile fatty acid (VFA) content increased (P = 0.037). Supplementary flavonoids decreased ruminal populations of protozoans (P = 0.002) and methanogens (P < 0.001) and increased the populations of Fibrobacter succinogenes (P = 0.016). In conclusion, flavonoids improved the digestibility of organic matter and reduced CH4output by inhibiting the populations of microbes involved in methanogenesis.
Feed Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Tao
T
Ma
Feed Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Dan-Dan
DD
Chen
Feed Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Yan
Y
Tu
Feed Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Nai-Feng
NF
Zhang
Feed Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Bing-Wen
BW
Si
Feed Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Qi-Yu
QY
Diao
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D045848:Fibrobacter; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D005419:Flavonoids; D009584:Nitrogen; D008697:Methane
CH4; flavonoids; polyphenol; sheep