Ruminant Nutrition Platform Session: Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics: Gut Health and Beyond

摘要

The rumen and gastrointestinal tract of cattle are populated by a denseand diverse microbial population. The complex microbial ecosystemsplay an important role in ruminant nutrition. We have long known thatruminal bacteria, protozoa, and fungi convert feedstuffs to volatile fattyacids and microbial crude protein which are utilized by the cow. Increasingevidence has accumulated that the microbial population is intimatelyinvolved with gut health, gut integrity, and the proper function of theimmune system. The microbial population of the gut produces acidsand other compounds that contribute to the development of conditionssuch as sub acute ruminal (or cecal) acidosis (SARA) which can leadto leaky gut syndrome, laminitis, and systemic inflammation in the hostanimal. If we can modulate the gastrointestinal microbial population, wecan affect gut integrity and alter the immune system in ways that reduceinflammation, enhance gut health, improve nutrient uptake, and reducecarriage of opportunistic foodborne pathogenic bacteria. Some of themost effective methods to modify the microbiome involves the use ofdirect-fed microbials (DFM), which includes probiotics and prebiotics.Prebiotics are nutrients that are not utilized by the host animal but aredegraded by microbes, whereas probiotics are live or dead microbialproducts or the end products of their fermentation. Feeding DFMproducts can have profound effects on the gut microbial population,because they create changes in specific microbial ecological factors thataffect survival of microbes and the end products of the gastrointestinalfermentation. Shifts in the VFA proportions can profoundly affect thegrowth of cattle, milk production, gut health, and energy availablefor gestation, lactation, or growth. By shifting the composition of themicrobial population, we can change the microbial impacts felt by theanimal and thus. Including pre- and probiotic products in dairy rationscan improve gut health and integrity, immune responses, animal health,and food safety of dairy cattle.