Effects of selenium and anthocyanin on apparent digestibility, blood parameters, rumen fermentation, and microbiota compositions of goat doe

The objective of this study was to investigates the influence of selenium and anthocyanin on the growth performance, apparent digestibility, antioxidant and immune parameters, lipid metabolism, biochemical and hormone parameters, rumen fermentation, and rumen microbiota compositions of goat doe. A total of forty-eight goat does (pregnant for 98 d) with similar body weights (45.35 ± 5.70 kg; mean ± SD) were randomly divided into four groups with 6 replicates, with 2 goats for each replicate according to a completely randomized design. The experimental period lasted for 42 d, which consisted of a pretrial period of 7 d and a formal period of 35 d. The four diets were as follows: (1) negative control, basal diet (CON); (2) positive control 1, CON with 4.8 mg/kg selenium-yeast (Se); (3) positive control 2, CON with 50 mg/kg purple corn anthocyanin pigment (PCP, An); and (4) treatment, CON with 4.8 mg/kg selenium-yeast + 50 mg/kg PCP (SeAn). The results indicated that the apparent digestibilities of crude protein and phosphorus in the goats receiving Se, An, and SeAn were greater (p < 0.05) than those in the CON group. The addition of SeAn resulted in higher (p < 0.05) levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase and lower (p < 0.05) concentrations of glucose and malondialdehyde than those in the CON group. In addition, compared with the CON group, the groups receiving Se, An, and SeAn presented higher (p < 0.05) immunoglobulin A levels. Compared with the other three groups, the SeAn group had lower (p < 0.05) creatinine and total cholesterol levels and higher (p < 0.05) progesterone levels. Compared with the CON group, the An and SeAn treatment groups presented showed lower (p < 0.05) levels of acetic acid and a lower ratio of acetate to propionate, whereas they presented higher (p < 0.05) levels of propionic acid and butyric acid. Moreover, compared with the other treatments, dietary supplementation with SeAn decreased (p < 0.05) the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiota at the phylum level. Goats receiving An and SeAn showed increased (p < 0.05) relative abundances of Ruminococcus and Butyrivibrio in ruminal fluid compared to the CON group at the genus level. Collectively, the results of the current study indicate that dietary supplementation with SeAn can improve the apparent digestibility, antioxidant activity, immune activity, lipid metabolism, hormone, and rumen fermentation parameters and microbiota compositions of goat doe.