Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial diversity and volatile fatty acid, and blood biochemical indices of suckling donkeys fed diets supplemented with multienzymes.
Authors: Li Chao, Li Xuan Yue, Li Xiao Bin, Ma Chen, Chen Hui, Yang Fan
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Young donkeys have immature digestive systems with limited enzyme production and underdeveloped microbial populations, making efficient nutrient utilisation challenging during the critical weaning period when maternal milk supply naturally declines—a situation where targeted nutritional intervention could significantly support growth. Li Chao and colleagues investigated whether supplementing concentrate feeds with a multienzyme blend (xylanase, β-mannanase, β-glucanase, cellulase, protease, and amylase) could overcome the digestive barriers posed by plant-based feed components, particularly non-starch polysaccharides and protein-starch complexes that limit enzyme access. Two-month-old suckling donkeys receiving multienzyme-supplemented diets demonstrated improved apparent nutrient digestibility alongside favourable shifts in fecal microbial composition, volatile fatty acid profiles, and blood biochemical markers compared to control animals. These findings suggest that enzymatic supplementation during early weaning can enhance feed efficiency and promote gastrointestinal development at a critical developmental window, with practical implications for reducing feeding costs and supporting optimal growth trajectories in donkey foals. Farriers and veterinary professionals monitoring young donkeys may find this approach relevant to conditioning protocols, particularly when managing animals with compromised growth or digestive efficiency during the transition from milk to solid feed dependency.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Consider multienzyme supplementation in early supplemental feeds for suckling donkeys to improve nutrient utilization when maternal milk production declines
- •Enzyme supplementation can help overcome the immature digestive system limitations in young donkeys, promoting healthy gastrointestinal tract development and microbial colonization
- •Monitor growth performance and overall health parameters as multienzyme-supplemented diets may provide measurable improvements in feed efficiency and development
Key Findings
- •Multienzyme supplementation (xylanase, β-mannanase, β-glucanase, cellulase, protease, amylase) improved apparent nutrient digestibility in suckling donkeys
- •Enzyme supplementation promoted fecal microbial diversity and altered volatile fatty acid profiles in young donkeys
- •Multienzyme treatment enhanced growth performance metrics in 2-month-old suckling donkeys
- •Enzyme supplementation positively influenced blood biochemical indices reflecting improved metabolic status