Effect of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract on gut microbiota and production performance in pigs

Different dietary patterns affect the composition of the gut microbiota. Consistently, microbiome alterations are associated with digestion, immunity, and productivity. <italic>Sasa quelpaertensis</italic> Nakai (SQ) is a perennial bamboo species rich in proteins and fiber. Previous studies have confirmed the health benefits of SQ; however, the effects of SQ supplementation on gut microbiome and production performance are unclear. Herein, Landrace pigs were supplemented with SQ extract (SQE) and changes in the gut microbiome compared to the control group were assessed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Additionally, the effects of SQE supplementation on average daily gain (ADG) and backfat thickness (BF) were assessed after slaughter. In the SQE group, at the phylum level, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria increased significantly, whereas Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes significantly decreased (<italic>p </italic>&lt; 0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of <italic>Bifidobacterium</italic> and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> increased, whereas that of <italic>Treponema</italic>, <italic>Prevotella</italic>, and <italic>Turicibacter</italic> decreased (<italic>p </italic>&lt; 0.05). There was no difference in microbial richness between the groups; however, microbial diversity decreased in the SQE group. Additionally, the SQE group showed a slight increase in ADG, although this difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, BF in the SQE group decreased significantly (<italic>p </italic>&lt; 0.05). These findings highlight the significant influence of SQE supplementation on the gut microbiota and demonstrate the potential of SQ as a valuable feed resource for enhancing animal productivity.