Exploring the Ruminal Microbial Community Associated with Fat Deposition in Lambs

Microbial communities of the sheep rumen have been studied extensively; however, their involvement in the regulation of fat deposition is unknown. Herein, we aimed to identify the correlations among fat deposition-related phenotypes and the effect of microbiota on changes in body fat accumulation. The rumen microbiota of 141 lambs was profiled by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, and the volatile fatty acids’ (VFAs’) concentrations were quantified by gas chromatography. Subsequently, the animals were grouped according to body mass index (BMI) to compare the microbiota of the rumen among the sheep with different fat deposition levels. Results further revealed differences in terms of the species abundance, diversity, and microbial composition between sheep with different fat deposition levels. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis and Random Forest (RF) regression analysis identified changes in 29 ruminal bacteria, which may be the main driver for different fat deposition.

Diversity of microbes colonizing forages of varying lignocellulose properties in the sheep rumen

Background The rumen microbiota contributes strongly to the degradation of ingested plant materials. There is limited knowledge about the diversity of taxa involved in the breakdown of lignocellulosic biomasses with varying chemical compositions in the rumen. Method We aimed to assess how and to what extent the physicochemical properties of forages influence the colonization and digestion by rumen microbiota. This was achieved by placing nylon bags filled with candidate materials in the rumen of fistulated sheep for a period of up to 96 h, followed by measuring forage’s chemical characteristics and community structure of biofilm-embedded microbiota. Results Rumen degradation for all forages appeared to have occurred mainly during the first 24 h of their incubation, which significantly slowed down after 48 h of rumen incubation, depending on their chemical properties. Random Forest analysis predicted the predominant role of Treponema and Butyrivibrio in shaping microbial diversity attached to the forages during the course of rumen incubation. Exploring community structure and composition of fiber-attached microbiota revealed significant differential colonization rates of forages depending on their contents for NDF and cellulose. The correlation analysis highlighted the significant contribution of Lachnospiraceae and Veillonellaceae to fiber degradation in the sheep rumen. Conclusion Our findings suggested that forage cellulose components are critical in shaping the pattern of microbial colonization and thus their final digestibility in the rumen.

TCTP Promotes Hu Sheep Rumen Epithelial Development before Weaning

BackgroundHu Sheep is a world precious breed of sheep. Rumen is the most important digestive organ for ruminant animals. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in rumen development help us design better strategies to improve the production of sheep. Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a highly conserved protein that involves various cellular processes. However, its role in rumen epithelium development remains unknown.ResultsTCTP was expressed in stratum basale, stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum of rumen epithelium. TCTP mRNA expression was extremely high on the day of birth, it then significantly decreased on day 15 and gradually increased until day 45 of age. TCTP protein expression remained in a relative low level from day 0 to day 15 of age, it then significantly increased on day 30 and gradually decreased until day 60. The ratio of Ki67 positive cell in stratum basale cell followed the similar pattern as the expression of TCTP. The papillae length decreased at first 15 days of postnatal life. Thereafter, the papilla undergo a period of growth from 538.1±17.3μm to 2211.1±56.6μm until 60 days of age. The phosphorylation of AKT is the highest on day 15 of age, then decreased until day 45. The ratio of acetate:propionate in rumen fluid decreased from day 30 to day 60 of age. ConclusionsTCTP participates in rumen papillae growth by promoting rumen stratum basale cell proliferation. We suggest that the translation of TCTP mRNA is regulated by AKT phosphorylation and the development of rumen papillae is associated with acetate:propionate ratio.

Influence of anaerobic rumen fungal inoculation on the fermentation and nutritive content of selected forage silages

This study investigated the ability of isolated anaerobic fungi to facilitate silage fermentation characteristic and nutritive content. To achieve this, two fungal isolates out of fourteen obtained in our laboratory from sheep rumen content were selected as silage inoculants. Selection of the isolates was based on their ability to present the highest growth characteristics and they belong to the genus Orpinomyces, and Neocallimastix (as identified with microscope). The two fungi alongside the control (i.e. no fungi) were used to inoculate different silages prepared from four selected forages i.e. two tropical grasses (i.e. Andropogon gayanus- AG, Brachiaria decumbens- BD) and two temperate forages (i.e. Triticum aestivum- TA straw and Lolium perenne- LP) in order to examine their effect on fermentation (i.e. pH) and nutritive content of these silages over 14 and 28 days of inoculation, respectively. The anaerobic fungal inoculated silages showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement in quality than un-inoculated silages which was reflected in terms of increase in soluble fraction i.e. CP content; reduction in fibre content; increase in metabolites, increase in total antioxidant content (TAC); and reduction in pH with minimal nutrient loss. However, the rate of the anaerobic fungal improvement was influenced by the forages used for the silage and the length of inoculation. The highest and lowest increase in quality was recorded in LP and TA silages, respectively, while more extended inoculation time supported more quality improvement in the silages. The use of anaerobic fungi as inoculants improved AG, BD, TA and LP silages quality through facilitation of the fermentation characteristics (i.e. pH and nutritive content).

Indigofera zollingeriana Leaf Extract Reduces Sheep Rumen Methane Production in Vitro

An experimental study aimed at assessing the reduction of gas methane production in thin-tailed sheep through the use of Indigofera zollingeriana leaf extract was conducted from May to September 2019 at Animal Nutrition and Feed Laboratory, University of Jenderal Soedirman Purwokerto. A One Way Classification of Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment was employed. The treatment included Indigofera zollingeriana leaf extract with levels of 0%, 0.40%, and 0.80% of feed dry matter and each treatment was repeated six times so that there were 18 experimental units. The feed provided consisted of 60% concentrate and 40% ammoniated rice straw. The concentrate consisted of coconut cake and rice bran with a ratio composition of 1:2. The material used was rumen fluid obtained from three thin-tailed sheep, sampled from the Sokaraja slaughterhouse immediately after the sheep were slaughtered. In vitro incubation was carried out for four hours. The variables measured included protozoan population, methane gas production and bacterial populations. The data obtained were then analyzed using analysis of variance and continued with the Orthogonal Polynomial test. The use of 0.80% Indigofera zollingeriana leaf extract can reduce the protozoan populations, methane gas production and can increase the bacterial populations of sheep rumen fluid.