PSVI-22 Rumen microbiome of beef cattle is modulated by backgrounding systems

Abstract Backgrounding (BKG) segment in beef production systems is characterized by utilization of different forages which affect growth performance and carcass characteristics. However, it is unclear how BKG systems impact rumen microbiome. We investigated rumen microbiome dynamics of beef calves under different BKG systems. At weaning, Angus and Angus x Simmental beef calves (n = 38) were stratified by age, weight, and sex in a completely randomized design into 1 of 3 BKG treatments for 55 d: 1) perennial pasture (PP; quackgrass, orchardgrass; smooth bromegrass, red clover, and alfalfa); 2) summer annual cover crop (CC; cereal oats, purple top turnips, hunter forage brassica, and graza forage radish); and 3) dry lot (DL; haylage, corn, and DDGS). After BKG, all calves were assigned to a high energy ration in a feedlot. Rumen sample was collected via esophageal tubing at weaning, BKG and feedlot. A total of 190 rumen fluid samples were used to sequence the hypervariable V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene on an Illumina MiSeq platform. The results showed that BKG systems largely influenced rumen bacterial communities. Specifically, microbiome composition and diversity were not different at weaning, diverged significantly during BKG (Shannon index, Bray Curtis distance metrics; P < 0.001) and homogenized during feedlot. During the BKG segment, the bacterial genera Agrobacterium, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus were dominant in CC whereas Fibrobacteraceae and Mycoplasmataceae was most dominant in DL. Moreover, rumen microbiome patterns of CC and DL calves showed increased plasticity in early stages of development but not during feedlot with PP showing fewer changes over time. These results indicate that BKG systems significantly modulate the rumen microbiome of beef cattle and, underscore the importance of early developmental stages as potential targets for feeding interventions that can impact the animal microbiome to enhance animal performance.

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PSX-A-22 Late-Breaking: Rumen microbiome composition and microbe network dynamics in beef cattle predict finishing performance under different backgrounding systems

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.685 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 374-375

Author(s):

Bobwealth O Omontese ◽

Ashok Sharma ◽

Samuel Davidson ◽

Emily Jacobson ◽

Megan Webb ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

High Energy ◽

Bacterial Gene ◽

Rumen Microbes ◽

Microbiome Composition ◽

Rumen Microbiome ◽

Microbe Interactions ◽

Early Developmental

Abstract Backgrounding (BKG) impacts growth and finishing performance in beef cattle. However, specific microbiome contributions to growth performance during this period, considering different BKG systems, remain unknown. A longitudinal study was designed to characterize the rumen microbiome and average daily gain (ADG) of Angus and Angus x Simmental calves (n = 38) placed under different BKG systems for 55 d after weaning: DL: a high roughage diet within a dry lot and CC: annual cover crop within a strip and PP, while a third group, PP: remained on perennial pasture vegetation within rotational paddocks, just as before weaning. After BKG, calves went to a feedlot for 142 d and finished with a high energy ration. Rumen bacterial communities were profiled by collecting fluid samples via oral probe, and sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene, at weaning, during backgrounding and finishing. For calves moved to CC and DL BKG, bacterial composition diverged drastically, including sharp decreases in bacterial diversity (P < 0.001), while PP claves conserved more stable diversity patterns. During BKG, DL calves also showed the greatest ADG (P < 0.05), which coincided with increased abundance of taxa affiliated to the Aeromondales (Succinivibrio, Succcinimonas and Ruminobacter) (P < 0.001). However, once in the finishing phase, PP calves showed compensatory ADG, with significantly higher values, particularly compared with calves on DL BKG (v = 0.02). Network theory analyses were concordant with these patterns, highlighting the importance of understanding microbe-microbe interactions at early developmental stages to predict finishing performance. These results indicate that rumen microbes and their network interactions during backgrounding successfully predict finishing performance in beef cattle, underscoring the importance of early post weaning stages as potential targets for feeding interventions that can modulate the rumen microbiome to enhance lifelong animal performance.

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Specific rumen microbiome traits predict average daily gain in beef cattle under different backgrounding systems

10.21203/rs.3.rs-923855/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bobwealth O. Omontese ◽

Ashok K. Sharma ◽

Samuel Davison ◽

Emily Jacobson ◽

Megan J. Webb ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Bacterial Communities ◽

Bacterial Community Composition ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

High Energy ◽

Feedlot Performance ◽

Bacterial Gene ◽

Rumen Microbiome ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Background Backgrounding (BKG), the stage between weaning and finishing, significantly impacts feedlot performance in beef cattle; however, the contributions of the rumen microbiome to this growth stage remain unexplored. A longitudinal study was designed to assess how BKG affects rumen bacterial communities and average daily gain (ADG) in beef cattle. At weaning, 38 calves were randomly assigned to three BKG systems for 55 days (d): a high roughage diet within a dry lot ( DL, n=13); annual cover crop within a strip plot ( CC, n=13); and perennial pasture vegetation within rotational paddocks ( PP, n=12), as before weaning. After BKG, all calves were placed in a feedlot for 142 d and finished with a high energy ration. Calves were weighed periodically from weaning to finishing to determine ADG. Rumen bacterial communities were profiled by collecting fluid samples via oral probe and sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene, at weaning, during BKG and finishing.Results Rumen bacterial communities diverged drastically among calves once they were placed in each BKG system, including sharp decreases in alpha diversity for CC and DL calves only ( P < 0.001). During BKG, DL calves showed a substantial increase of Proteobacteria, Succinivibrionaceae family ( Ruminobacter, Succinimonas ) (P<0.001), which also corresponded with greater ADG ( P < 0.05). At the finishing stage, alpha diversity decreased dramatically and Proteobacteria bloomed for all calves, with no previous alpha or beta diversity differences being retained between groups. However, at finishing, PP calves showed compensatory ADG, particularly greater than that in calves coming from DL BKG, who showed the lowest ADG ( P = 0.02). Microbe network dynamics and network traits related to centrality, connectivity, degree, number and strength of microbe-microbe interactions in the rumen were predictive of ADG during BKG and finishing.Conclusions Assessing rumen bacterial community composition, and particularly microbemicrobe interactions under different BKG systems may be useful in predicting growth performance in beef cattle. These findings underscore the importance of early post weaning stages as potential targets for feeding interventions that can modulate the rumen microbiome to enhance life-long productive performance in beef cattle.

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408 Effect of monensin intake during a stocker phase and subsequent finishing phase on rumen bacterial diversity of beef steers

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.336 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 163-164

Author(s):

Caleb P Weiss ◽

Paul A Beck ◽

John T Richeson ◽

Dexter J Tomczak ◽

Jianmin Chai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Communities ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Hypervariable Region ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Illumina Miseq ◽

Shannon Index ◽

Beef Steers ◽

Diet Change ◽

Gluten Feed

Abstract Three monensin levels during a stocker phase (0, 800, 1600 g/ton fed in a free choice mineral) and two levels during finishing [0 (U) or 37.5 mg/kg diet DM (M)] were used to determine the effects of monensin supplementation during a stocker and subsequent finishing phase on rumen bacterial communities of beef steers. Thirty calves were fed pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) hay with soybean hull and corn gluten feed supplement (0.5% BW daily, AF basis) or grazed fall wheat pasture (Triticum aestivum) during a stocker phase and then transported 1,067 km to Canyon, TX, for finishing. Rumen fluid was collected on d 0, 28, and the end of the stocker phase (d 85). Samples were also obtained at feedlot d 0, 14, 28, 56, and immediately prior to a diet change to include a beta-adrenergic agonist and before shipping for harvest. Rumen microbiota were characterized by next generation sequencing the 16S v4 hypervariable region with the Illumina MiSeq platform. During the stocker phase, Prevotella and Bacteroidetes were the most dominant genus regardless of diet or treatment. Monensin decreased (P ≤ 0.01) alpha diversity (Shannon Index) for cattle consuming hay on d 28 of the stocker phase. In the feedlot, Prevotella, Lachnospiraceae, and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant genus. Steers that were previously on the 0 and 1600 treatments during the stocker phase and were fed monensin at the feedlot had decreased alpha diversity (P = 0.04) on feedlot d 14 compared to those that did not. Monensin at the feedlot tended to increase alpha diversity on d 28 for cattle previously on the 1600 treatment (P = 0.06), and on d 56 for cattle previously on the 0 treatment (P = 0.06). This experiment provides a better understanding of the effect of monensin on rumen bacterial communities throughout production.

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Dynamics and stabilization of the rumen microbiome in yearling Tibetan sheep

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-56206-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lei Wang ◽

Ke Zhang ◽

Chenguang Zhang ◽

Yuzhe Feng ◽

Xiaowei Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Developmental Stages ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Functional Development ◽

Rumen Microbiome ◽

Age Related ◽

Colonization Process ◽

Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽

First Year Of Life

AbstractThe productivity of ruminants depends largely on rumen microbiota. However, there are few studies on the age-related succession of rumen microbial communities in grazing lambs. Here, we conducted 16 s rRNA gene sequencing for bacterial identification on rumen fluid samples from 27 Tibetan lambs at nine developmental stages (days (D) 0, 2, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 360, n = 3). We observed that Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria populations were significantly changed during the growing lambs’ first year of life. Bacteroidetes abundance increased from 18.9% on D0 to 53.9% on D360. On the other hand, Proteobacteria abundance decreased significantly from 40.8% on D0 to 5.9% on D360. Prevotella_1 established an absolute advantage in the rumen after 7 days of age. The co-occurrence network showed that the different microbial of the rumen presented a complex synergistic and cumbersome relationship. A phylogenetic tree was constructed, indicating that during the colonization process, may occur a phenomenon in which bacteria with close kinship are preferentially colonized. Overall, this study provides new insights into the colonization of bacterial communities in lambs that will benefit the development of management strategies to promote colonization of target communities to improve functional development.

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PSXIV-23 Characterization of microbial communities associated with the rumen lining, digesta and rumen fluid from beef cattle consuming a high energy diet using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.878 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 446-446

Author(s):

Arquimides Reyes ◽

Margaret Weinroth ◽

Cory Wolfe ◽

Robert Delmore ◽

Terry Engle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

16S Rrna Gene ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

High Energy ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Rrna Gene

Abstract The true etiology of liver abscesses is not well known. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the microbial communities in the rumen lining, digesta, and rumen fluid from beef cattle consuming a high energy diet, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Twelve crossbred feedlot steers (450 ±10 kg; ~ 3.0 years of age) fitted with ruminal fistulas, consuming a high energy finishing diet (1.43 NEg, Mcal/kg DM) for 21 d were utilized in this experiment. Microbial DNA from three regions within the rumen [rumen lining (ventral/lateral), digesta (geometric center of the rumen), and rumen fluid] was extracted and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced. Across all sample regions, bacterial sequences were classified into 34 phyla, 76 classes, 143 orders, and 254 families. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the predominant phyla present across all samples. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes detected in rumen fluid was lesser (P < 0.05) when compared to bacteria sampled from the rumen lining and digesta. In contrast, the relative abundance of Firmicutes were greater (P < 0.05) in rumen fluid and the rumen lining when compared to digesta samples. There are very few publications describing the complex community of the rumen microbiome. To our knowledge this is the first publication categorizing microbial populations in three distinct locations within the rumen using next generation sequencing in feedlot cattle.

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Brisket Disease Is Associated with Lower Volatile Fatty Acid Production and Altered Rumen Microbiome in Holstein Heifers

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091712 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1712

Author(s):

Naren Gaowa ◽

Kevin Panke-Buisse ◽

Shuxiang Wang ◽

Haibo Wang ◽

Zhijun Cao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acetic Acid ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Illumina Miseq ◽

Fatty Acid Production ◽

Mean Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽

Rumen Microbiome ◽

Pulmonary Arterial ◽

The Mean

Brisket disease is heritable but is also associated with non-genetic risk factors and effects of the disease on the rumen microbiome are unknown. Ten Holstein heifers were exposed to the plateau environment for three months and divided into two groups according to the index of brisket disease, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP): brisket disease group (BD, n = 5, mPAP > 63 mmHg) and healthy heifer group (HH, n = 5, mPAP < 41 mmHg). Rumen fluid was collected for analysis of the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Extracted DNA from rumen contents was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The concentration of total VFA and alpha-diversity metrics were significantly lower in BD group (p < 0.05). Ruminococcus and Treponema were significantly decreased in BD heifers (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that 10 genera were related to the mPAP (p < 0.05). Genera of Anaerofustis, Campylobacter, and Catonella were negatively correlated with total VFA and acetic acid (R < −0.7, p < 0.05), while genera of Blautia, YRC22, Ruminococcus, and Treponema were positively related to total VFA and acetic acid (R > 0.7; p < 0.05). Our findings may be a useful biomarker in future brisket disease work.

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270 Evidence for the amnion-fetal gut-microbial axis in late gestation beef calves

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.362 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 196-197

Author(s):

Gwendolynn Hummel ◽

Kelly Woodruff ◽

Kathleen Austin ◽

Travis Smith ◽

Hannah Cunningham

Keyword(s):

Amniotic Fluid ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Beef Cows ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Future Research ◽

Beef Calves ◽

Rumen Microbiome ◽

Vaginal Canal ◽

Microbial Dna

Abstract As the most immediate membrane surrounding the fetus, the amnion carries great potential as a microbial source of inoculation for the calf’s rumen microbiome. We hypothesize the calf is exposed to a microbial source prior to birth, and that the amnion plays an essential role in inoculation prepartum. Our objective was to isolate and identify microbes of the amniotic fluid and vaginal canal during late gestation and compare these populations to rumen fluid and meconium of newborn calves. Vaginal (VAG) and amniotic fluid (AF) samples were obtained from multiparous beef cows (n = 10) 10 days prior to their expected calving date. Rumen fluid (RF) and meconium (MEC) samples were obtained from each newborn calf immediately following parturition. Microbial DNA was isolated and purified utilizing the QIAmp DNA Stool Minikit (Qiagen) for amplicon 16S rRNA sequencing. All analysis was performed in QIIME2. Alpha-diversity was not different between MEC and AF (q ≥ 0.09) under any metric, but MEC and VAG differed under Faith’s Phylogenetic Diversity (q = 0.03). The MEC, AF, and VAG all differed in beta-diversity (q = 0.003). The degree of similarity between AF and MEC may indicate the AF plays a crucial role in the colonization of the fetal gut prepartum. Each of these lines of evidence outline fundamental aspects of the unfolding amnion-fetal gut-microbial axis, and provide key targets for future research into rumen development and the manipulation of feed efficiency in beef calves.

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Monensin Alters the Functional and Metabolomic Profile of Rumen Microbiota in Beef Cattle

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani8110211 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 211 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ibukun Ogunade ◽

Hank Schweickart ◽

Kenneth Andries ◽

Jerusha Lay ◽

James Adeyemi

Keyword(s):

Linoleic Acid ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Beef Steers ◽

Rumen Microbiota ◽

Rumen Microbiome ◽

Clostridium Symbiosum

To identify differences in rumen function as a result of feeding monensin to beef cattle, rumen fluid metagenomics and metabolomics analyses were used to evaluate the functional attributes and metabolites of rumen microbiota in beef steers fed no or 200 mg/d of monensin. Eight rumen-fistulated steers were used in the study for a period of 53 days. Rumen fluid samples were collected on the last day of the experiment. Monensin increased the relative abundance of Selenomonas sp. ND2010, Prevotella dentalis, Hallella seregens, Parabacteroides distasonis, Propionispira raffinosivorans, and Prevotella brevis, but reduced the relative abundance of Robinsoniella sp. KNHs210, Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium symbiosum, Burkholderia sp. LMG29324, and Clostridium butyricum. Monensin increased the relative abundance of functional genes involved in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. A total of 245 metabolites were identified. Thirty-one metabolites were found to be differentially expressed. Pathway analysis of the differentially expressed metabolites revealed upregulated metabolic pathways associated with metabolism of linoleic acid and some amino acids. These findings confirm that monensin affects rumen fermentation of forage-fed beef cattle by modulating the rumen microbiome, and by reducing amino acid degradation and biohydrogenation of linoleic acid in the rumen.

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Subacute ruminai acidosis in dairy cows

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.14867 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 352 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G. C. KITKAS (Γ.Χ. ΚΙΤΚΑΣ) ◽

N. PANOUSIS (Ν. ΠΑΝΟΥΣΗΣ) ◽

G. E. VALERGAKIS (Γ.Ε. ΒΑΛΕΡΓΑΚΗΣ) ◽

Ch. KARATZIAS (Χ. ΚΑΡΑΤΖΙΑΣ)

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Metabolic Diseases ◽

Production Systems ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Vena Cava ◽

High Energy ◽

Measuring Device ◽

Rumen Ph ◽

The Impact

Subacute or subclinical ruminai acidosis (SARA) is one of the most important metabolic diseases of dairy cows, characterized by a decrease in pH of rumen fluid below 5.5 (up to 5), certain hours after feeding. SARA is commonly found in intensive livestock production systems; so far, its prevalence has been studied only in few countries and was found to be particularly high. The disease is caused by a decrease in rumen pH below normal level, due to an excessive increase of rumen volatile fattyacids (VFA) concentration. The increased concentration of VFA could be due to diets rich in easily fermentable carbohydrates or slow absorption of the VFA by the rumen wall, due to maladjustment in high energy diets. Finely chopped feeds that do not adequately stimulate mastication and rumination, resulting in less production of saliva that acts as a buffer of the rumen fluid pH, seem to play an important role in the etiology of the disease. The diagnosis of SARA, based on its definition, is established by rumen pH determination, at specific time intervals after feeding. Continuous pH data acquisition can be obtained, for research purposes only, by rumen cannulation and immersion in rumen fluid of a pH-meter that continuously transmits pH data to a computer. Alternatively, the pH-measuring device can be inserted orally into the rumen in a bolus form, which is also a transmittersending the pH data continuously to a computer. The latter method is very promising for clinical practice, but, unfortunately, is currently too expensive. It is easier and more affordable for practitioners to obtain a rumen fluid sample by either using a rumen tube or, preferably, by performing rumenocentesis, by which rumen fluid free of "contaminating" saliva is collected. Rumenocentesis is safe, easy to perform and more accurate than rumen tubing. The impact of SARA in dairy cows includes,amongst others, reduction of milk production, milk fat content depression, laminitis and, therefore, lameness, liver abscesses formation and, therefore, caudal vena cava syndrome, increased culling rate without any obvious cause etc. SARA treatment and prevention is mainly based on management and dietary measures that eliminate the causes of the disease.

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269 Influence of the maternal rumen microbiome on development of the calf meconium and rumen microbiome

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.359 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 195-195

Author(s):

Kelly Woodruff ◽

Gwendolynn Hummel ◽

Kathleen Austin ◽

Travis Smith ◽

Hannah Cunningham

Keyword(s):

Beta Diversity ◽

Management Practices ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Illumina Miseq ◽

Sample Type ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽

Rumen Microbiome

Abstract Optimization of host performance may be achieved through programming of the rumen microbiome. Thus, understanding maternal influences on the development of the calf rumen microbiome is critical. We hypothesized that the cow maternal rumen microbiome would influence colonization of the calf rumen microbiome. Our objective was to relate the microbiome of the cow rumen fluid prior to parturition (RFC) and at weaning (RFCw) to the calf’s meconium microbiome (M) and calf rumen fluid microbiome at birth (RFd1), d 2 (RFd2), d 28 (RFd28), and weaning (RFNw). Multiparous Angus crossbred cows (n = 10) from the University of Wyoming beef herd were used. Rumen fluid was collected from the cows prior to parturition and at weaning. Immediately following parturition, meconium and rumen fluid were collected from the calf. Rumen fluid was collected again at d 2, 28, and at weaning. Microbial DNA was isolated and 16S rRNA sequencing was completed on the Illumina MiSeq. Sequence data were analyzed with QIIME2 to determine both alpha and beta diversity by sample type and day. Alpha diversity metrics reported similarities in the early gut microbiome (M, RFd1, and RFD2; q ≥ 0.12) and between the cow and calf at weaning (q ≥ 0.06). Microbial composition as determined by beta diversity differed in the early rumen microbiome (RFd1, RFd2, and RFd28; q ≤ 0.04). There were similarities in composition between M, RFCw, and RFd1 (q ≥ 0.09). These data can be used to develop hypotheses for the pathway of colonization in the early gut and can provide insight into management practices affecting the microbiome, improving host performance.

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