Effect of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract on gut microbiota and production performance in pigs

Abstract

Different dietary patterns affect the gut microbial compositions and diversity. Consistently, microbiome alterations are linked to digestion, immunity, and productivity. Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai (SQ) is a perennial bamboo species rich in proteins and fiber. Previous studies have confirmed the health benefits of SQ; however, the effects of SQ supplementation on gut microbiome and production performance are unclear. Herein, Landrace pigs were supplemented with SQ extract (SQE) and gut microbial compositions as opposed to the control group were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Additionally, the influences of SQE supplementation on average daily gain (ADG) and backfat thickness (BF) were assessed after slaughter. In the SQE group, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria phyla increased significantly, whereas Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes phyla markedly decreased (p < 0.05). The expression level of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera increased, whereas that of Treponema, Prevotella, and Turicibacter decreased (p < 0.05). The microbial richness was similar between groups; however, microbial diversity decreased in the SQE supplementation group. Additionally, the SQE supplementation in pigs resulted in a slight increase in ADG. In contrast, BF in the SQE group decreased notably (p < 0.05). These results underscore the significant influence of SQE supplementation on the gut microbiota and demonstrate the potential of SQ as a valuable feed resource for enhancing animal productivity.

Keywords: Diversity; Gut microbiota; Pig; Production performance; Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai.

Fig. 1.. Relative abundances and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) of gut microbiota between the control and SQE groups.

Distribution of gut microbiota at the (A) phylum, (B) order, (C) family, and (D) genus levels. (E) Taxonomic levels from the phylum to the genus (LDA score > 4, p < 0.05). Horizontal bars represent the effect size for each taxon. SQE, Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract; LDA, linear discriminant analysis.

Fig. 2.. Average daily gain (ADG) and backfat thickness (BF) between the control and SQE groups.

Boxplot of (A) ADG and (B) BF. Boxes represent the interquartile range (IQR) between the 25th and 75th percentiles, whereas the horizontal line within the box indicates the median value. The whiskers refer to the two lines extending from the box, spanning from the minimum value to the lower quartile. The p-value as assessed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test is indicated above the boxplot. SQE, Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract.

Fig. 3.. Alpha and beta diversity of gut microbiota between the control and SQE groups.

Boxplot of (A) Good’s coverage, (B) Chao1 index, (C) Shannon index, and (D) Simpson index. Boxes represent the IQR between the 25th and 75th percentiles, whereas the horizontal line within the box indicates the median value. The whiskers refer to the two lines extending from the box, spanning from the minimum value to the lower quartile. The p-value as assessed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test is indicated above the boxplot. (E) Plot of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). PCoA was performed at a species level with UniFrac distances, including unclassified operational taxonomic units. PC, principal component; SQE, Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract.