Effect of adaptogen lithium ascorbate on the microbiota of rumen in young ewes

Health and productivity of ruminants directly depend on the state of rumen and digestion in intestinal tract. Normal microflora protects the body from pathogenic microbes, stimulates the immune system, participates in metabolic reactions and plays an important role in energy metabolism. Disturbance of species composition of microflora in rumen under effect of various factors leads to a state of dysbiosis, disorders of products digestibility, changes in enzymatic processes and other disorders. Biologically active substances of an adaptogenic nature can show immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activity. Adaptogen lithium ascorbate has stress-protective, neurotrophic, neuroprotective, antioxidant, immunomodulatory properties. In this paper, using molecular genetic methods, the effect of lithium ascorbate on composition of rumen microbiota of sheep was studied for the first time.  Composition of microbiota was determined by NGS sequencing method. In total, 37 phylums, 76 classes, 98 orders, 225 families and 894 species of microorganisms were identified. It has been determined that introduction of lithium ascorbate at a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight into the main diet of sheep contributed to increase in proportion of cellulolytic bacteria from 73.6±1.6% to 75.4±0.9% and over 40% decrease in total number of infusoria in rumen content. Cellulolytic activity of rumen fluid in sheep of the experimental group increased by 38% compared to the animals of the control group. The number of pathogenic bacteria decreased from 2.7% in sheep of the control group to 1.6% in animals of the experimental group, while the content of beneficial bacilli increased from 0.3% to 0.5%, respectively. Content of undesirable and conditionally pathogenic microflora decreased in the sheep of experimental group. The obtained data confirm positive effect of adaptogen lithium ascorbate, introduced into diet at a dosage of 10 mg/kg of body weight, on qualitative and quantitative composition of microbiota in sheep rumen. Therefore, lithium ascorbate, a broad-spectrum adaptogen, can be recommended as a feed additive to the main diet of sheep to improve rumen digestion and increase productivity.