Yeast polysaccharide supplementation: impact on lactation, growth, immunity, and gut microbiota in Dezhou donkeys

• Published in: Frontiers in microbiology 2023-11, Vol.14, p.1289371-1289371
• Main Authors: Huang, Bingjian, Khan, Muhammad Zahoor, Chen, Yinghui, Liang, Huili, Kou, Xiyan, Wang, Xinrui, Ren, Wei, Wang, Changfa, Zhang, Zhenwei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dezhou donkeys; foals; growth; lactational performance; plasma metabolites; yeast polysaccharide
• ISSN: 1664-302X; 1664-302X
• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1289371

IntroductionThe Dezhou donkey, a prominent Chinese breed, is known for its remarkable size, rapid growth, and resilience to tough feeding conditions, and disease resistance. These traits are crucial in meeting the growing demand for Ejiao and donkey meat. Yeast polysaccharide (YPS), a functional polysaccharide complex known for its immune-enhancing and growth-promoting properties in livestock and poultry, remains relatively understudied in donkeys.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the impact of YPS supplementation on lactating and growing Dezhou donkey jennies and foals.Materials and methodsTwelve 45-day-old Dezhou donkey foals and their jennies, matched for body weight and age, were randomly allocated to two dietary groups: a control group receiving a basal diet and an experimental group receiving the basal diet supplemented with 10 g/pen of YPS. The experiment was conducted over a 23-day period, during which donkey foals and lactating jennies were co-housed.Results and discussionThe findings revealed that YPS supplementation had no adverse effects on milk production or composition in Dezhou donkey jennies but significantly increased feed intake. Additionally, YPS was associated with increased plasma glucose and creatinine concentrations in foals, while tending to decrease alkaline phosphatase, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and hemoglobin levels (p