Gou Fajie, Han Yincang, Sun Yonggang, Ding Weiqing, Jin Shenwei, Liu Yaqian, Chen Jianyu
Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China.
Key Laboratory of Plateau Livestock Genetic Resources Protection and Innovative Utilization of Qinghai Provincial, Xining, China.
Front Microbiol. 2025 Aug 6;16:1587474. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1587474. eCollection 2025.
This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms underlying feed efficiency (FE) in yaks by analyzing the composition of rumen microorganisms and their major metabolic pathways using metagenomic analysis under different dietary concentrate-to-forage ratios. A total of 40 Qinghai Plateau yaks (8-9 months old) with similar body weights (68.725 ± 18.973 kg) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups ( = 10per group). The experimental groups were fed diets with concentrate-to-forage ratios of 80:20 (C80), 65:35 (C65), 50:50 (C50), and 35:65 (C35), respectively. The study included a 15-day pre-feeding period followed by a 105-day experimental feeding period. The results indicated that the total weight gain in the C65 group was significantly higher than in the C50 and C35 groups by 29.91 and 28.97%, respectively ( < 0.05). Additionally, the rumen pH in the C80 group was significantly higher than in the C65, C50, and C35 groups ( < 0.05). Metagenomic analysis revealed significant differences ( < 0.05) in bacterial and archaeal community compositions across groups. Bacteroidota, Bacillota, Prevotella, Bacteroides, and Ruminococcus were identified as the dominant bacterial taxa at the phylum and genus levels. Functional analysis of rumen microbial metabolism showed that in the C35 group, pathways related to starch and sucrose metabolism, as well as fructose and mannose metabolism, were significantly different from those in other groups. The C35 group exhibited higher activity in functional pathways related to starch and sucrose metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, cellulose degradation, and methanolysis. In contrast, the C80 group showed greater activity in cellulose degradation and methane metabolism. Notably, the C65 group exhibited the highest activity in sugar metabolism pathways (ko00500), facilitating starch and soluble sugar degradation and the rapid conversion of pyruvic acid into acetic acid and propionate. This enhanced energy utilization efficiency, suggesting a superior capacity for sugar metabolism. In conclusion, the dietary composition of the C65 group demonstrated the most favorable effects on growth performance, rumen fermentation optimization, and microbial balance maintenance.
本研究旨在通过宏基因组分析，在不同精粗比日粮条件下，分析牦牛瘤胃微生物组成及其主要代谢途径，以探究饲料效率（FE）潜在的调控机制。选取40头体重相近（68.725±18.973千克）的青海高原牦牛（8-9月龄），随机分为4个处理组（每组10头）。各实验组分别饲喂精粗比为80:20（C80）、65:35（C65）、50:50（C50）和35:65（C35）的日粮。研究包括15天的预饲期和随后105天的试验饲喂期。结果表明，C65组的总增重显著高于C50组和C35组，分别高出29.91%和28.97%（P<0.05）。此外，C80组的瘤胃pH值显著高于C65组、C50组和C35组（P<0.05）。宏基因组分析显示，各组细菌和古菌群落组成存在显著差异（P<0.05）。拟杆菌门、芽孢杆菌门、普雷沃氏菌属、拟杆菌属和瘤胃球菌属被确定为门和属水平上的优势细菌类群。瘤胃微生物代谢功能分析表明，C35组中与淀粉和蔗糖代谢以及果糖和甘露糖代谢相关的途径与其他组存在显著差异。C35组在与淀粉和蔗糖代谢、果糖和甘露糖代谢、纤维素降解及甲醇分解相关的功能途径中表现出较高活性。相比之下，C80组在纤维素降解和甲烷代谢方面表现出更强活性。值得注意的是，C65组在糖代谢途径（ko00500）中表现出最高活性，促进淀粉和可溶性糖降解以及丙酮酸快速转化为乙酸和丙酸。这提高了能量利用效率，表明其具有卓越的糖代谢能力。总之，C65组的日粮组成对生长性能、瘤胃发酵优化和微生物平衡维持表现出最有利的影响。
