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Impact of Feed Composition on Rumen Microbial Dynamics and Phenotypic Traits in Beef Cattle Neves, André L. A.; Vieira, Ricardo Augusto Mendonça; Vargas-Bello-Pérez, Einar; Chen, Yanhong; McAllister, Tim; Ominski, Kim H.; Lin, Limei; Guan, Le Luo
Abstract
The rumen microbiome is central to feed digestion and host performance, making it an important target for improving ruminant productivity and sustainability. This study investigated how feed composition influences rumen microbial abundance and phenotypic traits in beef cattle. Fifty-nine Angus bulls were assigned to forage- and grain-based diets in a randomized block design, evaluating microbial dynamics, methane emissions, and feed efficiency. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) quantified bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and protozoal populations. Grain-based diets reduced bacterial and fungal counts compared to forage diets (1.1 × 1011 vs. 2.8 × 1011 copies of 16S rRNA genes and 1.5 × 103 vs. 3.5 × 104 copies of 18S rRNA genes/mL, respectively), while protozoan and methanogen populations remained stable. Microbial abundance correlated with feed intake metrics, including dry matter and neutral detergent fiber intakes. Methane emissions were lower in grain-fed bulls (14.8 vs. 18.0 L CH4/kg DMI), though feed efficiency metrics showed no direct association with microbial abundance. Comparative analysis revealed adaptive microbial shifts in response to dietary changes, with functional redundancy maintaining rumen stability and supporting host performance. These findings provide insights into how feed composition shapes rumen microbial dynamics and host phenotypes, highlighting the functional adaptability of the rumen microbiome during dietary transitions.
Item Metadata
Title |
Impact of Feed Composition on Rumen Microbial Dynamics and Phenotypic Traits in Beef Cattle
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Creator | |
Publisher |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
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Date Issued |
2025-01-31
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Description |
The rumen microbiome is central to feed digestion and host performance, making it an important target for improving ruminant productivity and sustainability. This
study investigated how feed composition influences rumen microbial abundance and phenotypic traits in beef cattle. Fifty-nine Angus bulls were assigned to forage- and grain-based
diets in a randomized block design, evaluating microbial dynamics, methane emissions, and
feed efficiency. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) quantified bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and protozoal
populations. Grain-based diets reduced bacterial and fungal counts compared to forage diets
(1.1 × 1011 vs. 2.8 × 1011 copies of 16S rRNA genes and 1.5 × 103 vs. 3.5 × 104
copies of 18S rRNA genes/mL, respectively), while protozoan and methanogen populations remained
stable. Microbial abundance correlated with feed intake metrics, including dry matter
and neutral detergent fiber intakes. Methane emissions were lower in grain-fed bulls
(14.8 vs. 18.0 L CH4/kg DMI), though feed efficiency metrics showed no direct association
with microbial abundance. Comparative analysis revealed adaptive microbial shifts in
response to dietary changes, with functional redundancy maintaining rumen stability and
supporting host performance. These findings provide insights into how feed composition shapes rumen microbial dynamics and host phenotypes, highlighting the functional
adaptability of the rumen microbiome during dietary transitions.
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Subject | |
Genre | |
Type | |
Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2025-02-27
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
CC BY 4.0
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0448142
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URI | |
Affiliation | |
Citation |
Microorganisms 13 (2): 310 (2025)
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Publisher DOI |
10.3390/microorganisms13020310
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Peer Review Status |
Reviewed
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Scholarly Level |
Faculty; Researcher
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Rights URI | |
Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
CC BY 4.0