ORIGINAL PAPER
Comparison of lipid profiles in the faeces of beef cattle
fed three common temperate grass silage diets
and their relevance to dietary composition
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1
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, 673576, Wayanad, India
2
Rothamsted Research, Net Zero & Resilient Farming, EX20 2SB, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, UK
3
Rothamsted Research, West Common, AL5 2JQ, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK
4
Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire TF10 8NB, UK
Publication date: 2023-07-25
Corresponding author
M. Elayadeth-Meethal
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, 673576, Wayanad, India
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2023;32(4):427-437
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Faecal lipidome signatures may vary depending on diet. Analyzing
17 different lipidome compounds and calculating ratios between them, we
analysed the composition of faecal lipidomes (fatty alcohols, stanols, and
archaeol) of beef cattle fed different diets. In this study, we measured the faecal
lipidome profiles of beef cattle fed three types of grass silage representative of
United Kingdom grasslands by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The
forage consisted of 1) permanent pasture (sown perennial ryegrass mixed with
unsown species); 2) reseeded perennial ryegrass monoculture; and 3) reseeded
mixture of perennial ryegrass and white clover (ca 80:20 fresh weight). The
contents of three forages varied significantly in water-soluble carbohydrates,
acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, modified acid detergent fibre, crude
protein, metabolizable energy, and crude ash. Diet significantly affected the
composition of the faecal lipidome. Apart from stigmasterol, sex and the diet-bysex
interaction did not affect the faecal lipidome. Further, the ratios of lipidome
compounds in faeces were validated as biomarkers of diet composition. The
24-ethyl coprostanol, 5-stigmastanol, campesterol, and even chain fatty alcohols
such as C18-OH (3-hydroxy stearoyl carnitine), C22-OH – alcohol fraction
with 22 carbon residues, C24-OH – alcohol fraction with 24 carbon residues,
C26-OH – alcohol fraction with 26 carbon residues, and various lipidome ratios
differed significantly between diets on a univariate basis. Based on an analysis
of the composition and ratios of faecal lipidomes, this study provides a means
for predicting the diet composition of agricultural livestock and wild herbivores.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We gratefully acknowledge Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Devon (UK) for offering the facilities for the research.
FUNDING
This research was supported by the Soil to Nutrition Institute Strategic Programme (BBS/E/C/000I0320) funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Rothamsted International Fellowship funded MEM. The NWFP is a UK National Capability supported by the BBSRC (BBS/E/C/000J0100).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
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