The Impact of Different Dietary Ratios of Soluble Carbohydrate-to-Neutral Detergent Fiber on Rumen Barrier Function and Inflammation in Dumont Lambs

Abstract

Appropriate soluble carbohydrate (SCHO)-to-NDF ratios in the diet are essential for rumen health. The effects of different SCHO-to-NDF ratios (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0) on rumen barrier function and inflammation in Dumont lambs (n = 18, 6 replicates per treatment) was investigated. The SCHO:NDF ratio was altered by replacing the forage (Leynus chinensis) with corn grain. With an increase in the proportion of SCHO, the final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), soluble carbohydrate intake (SCHOI), and LPS level increased; and the neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI), ruminal papillae height, papillae area, and pH decreased (p plin p plin = 0.005, pquad = 0.003) and protein (p pquad p plin = 0.001) levels. The level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly greater in the medium CHO:NDF group than in the high CHO:NDF group (p pquad p plin plin = 0.003), IκB-α (plin plin = 0.001) increased linearly, and those in the high CHO:NDF group were significantly greater than those in the other two groups (p < 0.05). Therefore, when the SCHO-to-NDF ratio was increased to 1.5, the rumen epithelium was not affected, but when the ratio was increased to 2.0, NF-κB and MAPK were activated in the rumen epithelium, leading to impaired barrier function and inflammation. The suitable NFC:NDF ratio for the short-term fattening of Dumont lambs was found to be 1.50.

Keywords

• soluble carbohydrate-to-neutral detergent-fiber ratio
• rumen epithelium
• tight junctions
• inflammation
• NF-κB /MAPK
• Dumont lambs