Journal
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANIMAL NUTRITION
Volume 107, Issue -, Pages 18-29Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13812
Keywords
extrusion; faecal metabolites; fibre source; intestinal functionality; microbial community diversity; short-chain fatty acids; tuber
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The effects of fine cassava fibre on kibble characteristics, digestibility, palatability, faecal metabolites, and microbiota of dogs were evaluated through three experiments. The results showed that the addition of fine cassava fibre improved kibble expansion, palatability, production of short-chain fatty acids, and modulation of the faecal microbiota of dogs.
The objective was to evaluate through three experiments the effects of a fine cassava fibre (CA: 106 mu m) on kibble characteristics, coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of macronutrients, diet palatability and faecal metabolites and microbiota of dogs. Dietary treatments consisted of a control diet (CO), without an added fibre source and with 4.3% total dietary fibre (TDF), and a diet with 9.6% CA (106 mu m), with 8.4% TDF. Experiment I evaluated the physical characteristics of the kibbles. The palatability test was evaluated in experiment II, which compared the diets CO versus CA. In experiment III, 12 adult dogs were randomly assigned to one of the two dietary treatments for 15 days, totalling six replicates/treatment, to assess the CTTAD of macronutrients; faecal characteristics, faecal metabolites and microbiota. The expansion index, kibble size and friability of diets with CA were higher than the CO (p < 0.05). Additionally, the CA diet presented higher palatability than the CO (p < 0.05) but did not affect CTTAD except for those of fibre (p > 0.05). Moreover, a greater faecal concentration of acetate, butyrate and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and a lower faecal concentration of phenol, indole and isobutyrate were observed in dogs fed the CA diet (p < 0.05). Dogs fed with the CA diet presented a greater bacterial diversity and richness and a greater abundance of genera considered to be beneficial for gut health, such as Blautia, Faecalibacterium and Fusobacterium when compared to the CO group (p < 0.05). The inclusion of 9.6% of a fine CA improves the expansion of kibbles and diet palatability without affecting most of the CTTAD of nutrients. Besides, it improves the production of some SCFA and modulates the faecal microbiota of dogs.
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