The potential benefit of corn dried distillers' grain (co)products (DDG) in the mitigation of methane production in cattle: An in vitro analysis (original) (raw)

Long-term effects of early-life rumen microbiota modulation on dairy cow production performance and methane emissions

Frontiers in Microbiology

Rumen microbiota modulation during the pre-weaning period has been suggested as means to affect animal performance later in life. In this follow-up study, we examined the post-weaning rumen microbiota development differences in monozygotic twin-heifers that were inoculated (T-group) or not inoculated (C-group) (n = 4 each) with fresh adult rumen liquid during their pre-weaning period. We also assessed the treatment effect on production parameters and methane emissions of cows during their 1st lactation period. The rumen microbiota was determined by the 16S rRNA gene, 18S rRNA gene, and ITS1 amplicon sequencing. Animal weight gain and rumen fermentation parameters were monitored from 2 to 12 months of age. The weight gain was not affected by treatment, but butyrate proportion was higher in T-group in month 3 (p = 0.04). Apart from archaea (p = 0.084), the richness of bacteria (p < 0.0001) and ciliate protozoa increased until month 7 (p = 0.004) and anaerobic fungi until month 11 (...

Rumen and Fecal Microbial Community Structure of Holstein and Jersey Dairy Cows as Affected by Breed, Diet, and Residual Feed Intake

Animals

Identifying factors that influence the composition of the microbial population in the digestive system of dairy cattle will be key in regulating these populations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we analyzed rumen and fecal samples from five high residual feed intake (RFI) Holstein cows, five low RFI Holstein cows, five high RFI Jersey cows and five low RFI Jersey cows, fed either a high-concentrate diet (expected to reduce methane emission) or a high-forage diet. Bacterial communities from both the rumen and feces were profiled using Illumina sequencing on the 16S rRNA gene. Rumen archaeal communities were profiled using Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) targeting the mcrA gene. The rumen methanogen community was influenced by breed but not by diet or RFI. The rumen bacterial community was influenced by breed and diet but not by RFI. The fecal bacterial community was influenced by individual animal variation and, to a lesser extent, by bre...

Evolution of rumen and oral microbiota in calves is influenced by age and time of weaning

Animal Microbiome, 2021

BackgroundThe rumen bacterial communities are changing dynamically throughout the first year of calf’s life including the weaning period as a critical event. Rumen microbiome analysis is often limited to invasive rumen sampling procedures but the oral cavity of ruminants is expected to harbour rumen microbes due to regurgitation activity. The present study used buccal swab samples to define the rumen core microbiome and characterize the shifts in rumen and oral microbial communities occurring as result of calf’s age as well as time of weaning.ResultsBuccal swab samples of 59 calves were collected along the first 140 days of life and compared to stomach tubing sample of the rumen at day 140. Animals were randomly divided into two weaning groups. Microbiota of saliva and rumen content was analysed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our study showed that most rumen-specific bacterial taxa were equally observed in rumen samples as well as in the buccal swabs, though relative abundanc...

Development of Ruminal and Fecal Microbiomes Are Affected by Weaning But Not Weaning Strategy in Dairy Calves

The nature of weaning, considered the most stressful and significant transition experienced by dairy calves, influences the ability of a calf to adapt to the dramatic dietary shift, and thus, can influence the severity of production losses through the weaning transition. However, the effects of various feeding strategies on the development of rumen or fecal microbiota across weaning are yet to be examined. Here we characterized the pre-and post-weaning ruminal and fecal microbiomes of Holstein dairy calves exposed to two different weaning strategies, gradual (step-down) or abrupt. We describe the shifts toward a mature ruminant state, a transition which is hastened by the introduction of the solid feeds initiating ruminal fermentation. Additionally, we discuss the predicted functional roles of these communities, which also appear to represent that of the mature gastrointestinal system prior to weaning, suggesting functional maturity. This assumed state of readiness also appeared to negate the effects of weaning strategy on ruminal and fecal microbiomes and therefore, we conclude that the shift in gastrointestinal microbiota may not account for the declines in gain and intakes observed in calves during an abrupt weaning.

Influence of Feed and Feeding Strategies on Rumen Microbiome: A Review

Indian Journal of Animal Research, Volume 58 Issue 9: 1444-1451 (September 2024)

The presence of complex microorganisms in the rumen of ruminants are able to process the lignocellulose from low quality feed and fodder into volatile fatty acids, convert non-protein nitrogen into microbial protein and synthesize B vitamins, thus, ruminants are able to produce food of animal origin without competition for feed with non-ruminants and man. On the other hand, they contribute 14 per cent of anthropogenic methane, released annually into the atmosphere. Manipulating the rumen microbiome is considered as an important approach to reduce environmental impact, while increasing production efficiency in ruminants. A systematic literature search was undertaken and relevant research and review articles were downloaded, classified and salient points extracted to prepare the narrative review on "Influence of Feed and Feeding strategies on Rumen microbiome". The microbial community in the rumen is the most diverse composed of bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi and uncharacterized virome. Differences in ruminal microbial community compositions are predominantly attributable to diet. Dietary manipulation offers a viable solution to alter the rumen microbiome so that the present-day challenges faced by the ruminant livestock industry is addressed.

Rumen Bacterial Community Composition in Holstein and Jersey Cows Is Different under Same Dietary Condition and Is Not Affected by Sampling Method

Frontiers in microbiology, 2016

The rumen microbial community in dairy cows plays a critical role in efficient milk production. However, there is a lack of data comparing the composition of the rumen bacterial community of the main dairy breeds. This study utilizes 16S rRNA gene sequencing to describe the rumen bacterial community composition in Holstein and Jersey cows fed the same diet by sampling the rumen microbiota via the rumen cannula (Holstein cows) or esophageal tubing (both Holstein and Jersey cows). After collection of the rumen sample via esophageal tubing, particles attached to the strainer were added to the sample to ensure representative sampling of both the liquid and solid fraction of the rumen contents. Alpha diversity metrics, Chao1 and observed OTUs estimates, displayed higher (P = 0.02) bacterial richness in Holstein compared to Jersey cows and no difference (P > 0.70) in bacterial community richness due to sampling method. The principal coordinate analysis displayed distinct clustering of ...