Effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances, caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbits

A total of 576 rabbits were housed in 18 open-top elevated pens (32 rabbits per pen) during the fattening period (54–71 d of age) and fed a standard diet or a diet enriched in purified wood lignocellulose and fat formulated to guarantee rabbit optimal digestive health and convenient feed conversion...

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Main Authors: Giulia Zardinoni, Angela Trocino, Marco Birolo, Francesco Bordignon, Piergiorgio Stevanato, Fabrizio Pirrone, Andrea Zuffellato, Gerolamo Xiccato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2359589
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author Giulia Zardinoni
Angela Trocino
Marco Birolo
Francesco Bordignon
Piergiorgio Stevanato
Fabrizio Pirrone
Andrea Zuffellato
Gerolamo Xiccato
author_facet Giulia Zardinoni
Angela Trocino
Marco Birolo
Francesco Bordignon
Piergiorgio Stevanato
Fabrizio Pirrone
Andrea Zuffellato
Gerolamo Xiccato
author_sort Giulia Zardinoni
collection DOAJ
description A total of 576 rabbits were housed in 18 open-top elevated pens (32 rabbits per pen) during the fattening period (54–71 d of age) and fed a standard diet or a diet enriched in purified wood lignocellulose and fat formulated to guarantee rabbit optimal digestive health and convenient feed conversion ratio. The impacts on gut microbiota (both hard faeces and caecal content) and caecal fermentation, diet digestibility and rabbit performance were examined. The microbial diversity and the bacterial community structure of hard faeces barely differed from that of caecal content (p > .05). No differences in alpha and beta diversity of microbiota were detected between rabbits fed the different diets. Twelve genera, mostly belonging to the family of Lachnospiraceae, increased (p < .05) in rabbits fed the diet added with the purified lignocellulose and fat. The increase of insoluble fibre by purified wood lignocellulose reduced the digestibility of fibre fractions (NDF digestibility 19.2% vs. 26.8%; p < .001) while increasing protein (73.5% vs. 71.6%; p < .01) and ether extract digestibility. Growth performance was not affected by the dietary treatment (average daily weight gain: 40.9 g/d; feed conversion ratio: 4.04). Total losses (dead + underweight animals) averaged at 4.17% without significant differences between the dietary treatments. In conclusion, the addition of purified wood lignocellulose in fat-added diets did not affect rabbit performance and overall farm efficiency was maintained. Some changes in the caecal fermentation profile may indicate a change in microbial pathways rather than composition, where no significant effects on the gut microbiota were observed.
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issn 1594-4077
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spelling doaj-art-2876e6abfdb841c0b3b2bc02b7effd272025-08-20T02:42:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2024-12-012311018103010.1080/1828051X.2024.23595892359589Effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances, caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbitsGiulia Zardinoni0Angela Trocino1Marco Birolo2Francesco Bordignon3Piergiorgio Stevanato4Fabrizio Pirrone5Andrea Zuffellato6Gerolamo Xiccato7Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of PadovaDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of PadovaDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of PadovaDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of PadovaDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of PadovaDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of PadovaA.I.A. Agricola Italiana Alimentare S.p.ADepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of PadovaA total of 576 rabbits were housed in 18 open-top elevated pens (32 rabbits per pen) during the fattening period (54–71 d of age) and fed a standard diet or a diet enriched in purified wood lignocellulose and fat formulated to guarantee rabbit optimal digestive health and convenient feed conversion ratio. The impacts on gut microbiota (both hard faeces and caecal content) and caecal fermentation, diet digestibility and rabbit performance were examined. The microbial diversity and the bacterial community structure of hard faeces barely differed from that of caecal content (p > .05). No differences in alpha and beta diversity of microbiota were detected between rabbits fed the different diets. Twelve genera, mostly belonging to the family of Lachnospiraceae, increased (p < .05) in rabbits fed the diet added with the purified lignocellulose and fat. The increase of insoluble fibre by purified wood lignocellulose reduced the digestibility of fibre fractions (NDF digestibility 19.2% vs. 26.8%; p < .001) while increasing protein (73.5% vs. 71.6%; p < .01) and ether extract digestibility. Growth performance was not affected by the dietary treatment (average daily weight gain: 40.9 g/d; feed conversion ratio: 4.04). Total losses (dead + underweight animals) averaged at 4.17% without significant differences between the dietary treatments. In conclusion, the addition of purified wood lignocellulose in fat-added diets did not affect rabbit performance and overall farm efficiency was maintained. Some changes in the caecal fermentation profile may indicate a change in microbial pathways rather than composition, where no significant effects on the gut microbiota were observed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2359589feed efficiencydietary fibrefatcaecal fermentationmicrobiota
spellingShingle Giulia Zardinoni
Angela Trocino
Marco Birolo
Francesco Bordignon
Piergiorgio Stevanato
Fabrizio Pirrone
Andrea Zuffellato
Gerolamo Xiccato
Effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances, caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbits
Italian Journal of Animal Science
feed efficiency
dietary fibre
fat
caecal fermentation
microbiota
title Effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances, caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbits
title_full Effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances, caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbits
title_fullStr Effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances, caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbits
title_full_unstemmed Effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances, caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbits
title_short Effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances, caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbits
title_sort effect of dietary supplementation with purified wood lignocellulose on performances caecal fermentation and gut microbiota of growing rabbits
topic feed efficiency
dietary fibre
fat
caecal fermentation
microbiota
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2359589
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