A. Baldi

A. Luciano

L. Pinotti

M. Ottoboni

M. Tretola

AIR Universita degli studi di Milano

[page 34] [Ital J Anim Sci vol.18:s1, 2018]
22nd Congress of Animal Science and Production Association
ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY, HEALTH AND WELFARE – MICROBIOME
Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e 
Alimentazione, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
Contact: nida.amin@phd.unipd.it
Rumen protozoal communities produce a large amount of hydro-
gen as part of metabolism. Due to interspecies hydrogen transfer 
with their symbiotic partners (methanogens), protozoa play an 
important role in rumen methanogenesis. Therefore, in order to 
reduce ruminal methane emission, a thorough understanding of 
rumen protozoal community composition is very important. This 
study was aiming to monitor seven lactating Italian Simmental 
cows during different physiological stages, to observe possible 
modifications in their metabolically active rumen protozoal com-
munities, based on 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The experi-
ment was divided into 3 parts depending on different physiological 
stages of dairy cows: late lactation (248–332 DIM), dry period 
(8–51  days before calving), and postpartum (15–34  days after 
calving). Rumen fluid samples were collected using an oesopha-
geal probe from each cow, maintained on a specific total mixed 
ration (TMR) at least for 10 days before collection. RNA extraction 
was done in duplicates and used as template for synthesis of 
cDNA, that was later amplified by PCR using specific primers for 
eukaryotic hypervariable V9 region of 18S rRNA gene, followed by 
sequencing using 300 bp paired-end Illumina Miseq platform. 
Furthermore, during each part of the experiment, the total num-
ber of protozoa in the rumen fluid samples was also counted man-
ually using compound microscope. The physiological stages of 
dairy cows were found to have a clear effect on rumen protozoal 
community composition, with the most prominent effects observed 
on the relative abundance of following protozoal phyla (Ciliophora 
and Amoebozoa), and genera (Dasytricha, Eudiplodinium, 
Ostracodinium and Entamoeba). In conclusion, dry period resulted 
in higher protozoa number and an increase in abundance of cil-
iated protozoan populations. This study has potential future impli-
cations in microbial programming process, through controlled 
early life feeding managements to decrease hydrogen producing 
ciliated protozoans populations which play a key role in rumen 
methanogenesis, thereby improving health and production.
O036
Growth performance and gut microbiota in 
post-weaning piglets fed diets containing 
bakery/confectionary former food 
products as cereal substitute
Luciano Pinotti, Marco Tretola, Matteo Ottoboni, Alice 
Luciano, Antonella Baldi
Dipartimento di Scienze veterinarie per la salute, la 
produzione animale e la sicurezza alimentare, University 
of Milano, Italy
Contact: marco.tretola@unimi.it
Former Foodstuffs (FFPs) are products that have lost their com-
mercial value on the human consumption market, due to for 
example production errors. However, their nutritional value for 
animal feed purposes is not at all affected. Biscuits, bread, cere-
als, chocolate bars, pasta, savoury snacks and sweets leftovers 
from the food industry are all FFPs, high in energy content in the 
form of sugar, starch, oil or fat. For this reason, they can be con-
sidered an appealing alternative feed ingredient as valuable 
energy sources. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 
FFPs on growth performance and gut microbiota when they par-
tially replace conventional cereal grains in post-weaning piglet’s 
diets. After an adaptation period, 12 post-weaning piglets were 
housed for 16  days in individual pen and were fed two diets, 
including a standard wheat-barley-corn meal control diet and a 
diet containing 30% FFPs partially substituting for conventional 
cereals. The diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous and met 
NRC (2012) requirements. For the growth performance evalua-
tion, individual feed intake and piglet’s body weight (BW, kg) 
were recorded, while average daily gain (ADG kg/day), average 
daily feed intake (ADFI kg/day) and feed conversion ratio (FCR 
kg/kg) have been calculated. Stool samples have been collected 
for the next generation sequencing of the variable regions V3 
and V4 of the 16S rRNA gene in order to characterise the faecal 
microbiota composition. At the end of the experiment, no differ-
ences in BW, ADG and ADFI have been observed between groups. 
Conversely, piglets on the FFP diet showed a better FCR (p<.05). 
The gut microbiota did not show differences in microbial taxa 
composition, while further investigations are necessary to clarify 
the effects of FFPs on gut bacterial abundance and biodiversity.
Acknowledgements
The research was funded by the Italian Ministry of Health in the frame 
of IZS PLV 06/14 RC project.
O037
Administration of green tea and 
pomegranate extract in drinking water on 
broiler growth performance, total blood 
antioxidant activity and gut microbiota
Marcello Comi, Carlotta Giromini, Raffaella Rebucci, 
Silvia Giorgi, Vittorio Dell’Orto, Valentino Bontempo
Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie per la Salute, la 
Produzione Animale e la Sicurezza Alimentare, University 
of Milano, Italy
Contact: marcello.comi@unimi.it
The plant-derived products as green tea extracts have been exten-
sively used in poultry nutrition due to their antioxidant, anti-viral 
and anticoccidial properties. Furthermore, they have the capacity 
to lower cholesterol and reduce lipid peroxide level in plasma and 
meat, and improve the growth performance and meat quality of 
Q12


Growth performance and gut microbiota in post-weaning piglets fed diets containing bakery/confectionary former food products as cereal substitute

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Growth performance and gut microbiota in post-weaning piglets fed diets containing bakery/confectionary former food products as cereal substitute

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