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Little quantitative information is available on how dietary lipids concurrently alter the main rumen microbial functions in relation with their incorporation level. In a three-period experiment, linseed (Linum usitatissimum, LO) and rapeseed (Brassica napus L., RO) oils were added at 0, 40 or 80 g/kg dry matter input (DMI) to five 1-L dual outflow fermenters that were on a maize silage-based diet for nine days per period. RO supply decreased butyrate specific production. The amount of hexoses fermented (HF) increased by 9% at 40 g/kg LO. The production of CH4 was lower at 80 g/kg LO by 46% compared with controls. Conversely, the supply of LO significantly increased H2 and H2S productions in an antagonistic mode. The specific productions of propionate, butyrate, CH4 and H2 were altered by LO. The supply of RO increased the ammonia daily outflow (by 23% at 40 g/kg) and decreased the organic N outflow (by 13% at 80 g/kg). The degradabilities of dietary fractions were not affected by RO, neither the OM partitioning between dietary, fermented and microbial outflows. The OM true degradability decreased at 80 g/kg LO compared with controls and 40 g/kg LO. When LO was supplied, isovalerate and ammonia-N outflows were higher, organic and microbial N outflows and EMPS were lower along with changes in the OM outflow partitioning. Overall microbial processes appeared to differ in their responses to fatty acids saturation. Moreover, most effects were present at 40 g/kg DMI and diminished or even plateaued at 80 g/kg DMI.Highlights Four per cent oil lowered butyrate specific production Four per cent Linseed oil lowered microbial protein synthesis efficiency Linseed oil lowered methanogenesis in proportion to input level

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122596.].

In stud management, broodmares are commonly fed concentrates in late pregnancy. This practice, however, was shown to correlate with an increased incidence of osteochondrosis in foals, which may be related to insulin sensitivity. We hypothesized that supplementation of the mare with barley in the last trimester of pregnancy alters the pre-weaning foal growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status. Here, pregnant multiparous saddlebred mares were fed forage only (group F, n=13) or both forage and cracked barley (group B, n=12) from the 7th month of pregnancy until term, as calculated to cover nutritional needs of broodmares. Diets were given in two daily meals. All mares and foals returned to pasture after parturition. Post-natal growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status were investigated in pre-weaning foals. B mares maintained an optimal body condition score (>3.5), whereas that of F mares decreased and remained low (

In equids, placentation is diffuse and nutrient supply to the fetus is determined by uterine size. This correlates with maternal size and affects intra-uterine development and subsequent post-natal growth, as well as insulin sensitivity in the newborn. Long-term effects remain to be described. In this study, fetal growth was enhanced or restricted through ET using pony (P), saddlebred (S) and draft (D) horses. Control P-P (n = 21) and S-S (n = 28) pregnancies were obtained by AI. Enhanced and restricted pregnancies were obtained by transferring P or S embryos into D mares (P-D, n = 6 and S-D, n = 8) or S embryos into P mares (S-P, n = 6), respectively. Control and experimental foals were raised by their dams and recipient mothers, respectively. Weight gain, growth hormones and glucose homeostasis were investigated in the foals from birth to weaning. Fetal growth was enhanced in P-D and these foals remained consistently heavier, with reduced T3 concentrations until weaning compared to P-P. P-D had lower fasting glucose from days 30 to 200 and higher insulin secretion than P-P after IVGTT on day 3. Euglycemic clamps in the immediate post-weaning period revealed no difference in insulin sensitivity between P-D and P-P. Fetal growth was restricted in S-P and these foals remained consistently lighter until weaning compared to S-D, with elevated T3 concentrations in the newborn compared to S-S. S-P exhibited higher fasting glycemia than S-S and S-D from days 30 to 200. They had higher maximum increment in plasma glucose than S-D after IVGTT on day 3 and clamps on day 200 demonstrated higher insulin sensitivity compared to S-D. Neither the restricted nor the enhanced fetal environment affected IGF-1 concentrations. Thus, enhanced and restricted fetal and post-natal environments had combined effects that persisted until weaning. They induced different adaptive responses in post-natal glucose metabolism: an early insulin-resistance was induced in enhanced P-D, while S-P developed increased insulin sensitivity.