Effects of diets for three growing stages by rumen inocula donors on in vitro rumen fermentation and microbiome

• Published in: Journal of Animal Science and Technology Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 523 - 542
• Main Authors: Kang, Ryukseok, Lee, Huseong, Seon, Hyeonsu, Park, Cheolju, Song, Jaeyong, Park, Joong Kook, Kim, Yong Kwan, Kim, Minseok, Park, Tansol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology 01.05.2024; Korean Society of Animal Sciences and Technology; 한국축산학회
• Subjects: Animal culture; Functional prediction; Growing stages; In vitro fermentation; Korean native cattle; Research Article; Rumen microbiome; SF1-1100; 축산학; Growing stages; Korean native cattle; In vitro fermentation; Functional prediction; Rumen microbiome
• ISSN: 2672-0191; 2055-0391; 2093-6281
• DOI: 10.5187/jast.2023.e109

Hanwoo and Jeju Black cattle (Jeju Black) are native breeds of Korean cattle. Jeju Black cattle are recognized as natural monuments and are known to exhibit slower growth rates compared to Hanwoo. While several studies have analyzed the genetic characteristics of these cattle, there has been limited research on the differences in their microbiome. In this study, rumen fluid was obtained from three Hanwoo steers and three Jeju Black steers, and three different diets (total mixed rations [TMRs] for growing, early fattening, and late fattening periods) were used as substrates for fermentation. The incubation was conducted for 3 h and 24 h following a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. After both incubation periods, fermentation characteristics were analyzed, and ruminal microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, employing both QIIME2 and PICRUSt2. The results revealed significant differences in the ruminal microbiota due to the inoculum effect. At the phylum level, Patescibacteria and Synergistota were found to be enriched in the Jeju Black inoculum-treated group. Additionally, using different inocula also affected the relative abundance of major taxa, including Ruminococcus, Pseudoramibacter, Ruminococcaceae CAG-352, and the [ ] group. These microbial differences induced by the inoculum may have originated from varying levels of domestication between the two subspecies of donor animals, which mainly influenced the fermentation and microbiome features in the early incubation stages, although this was only partially offset afterward. Furthermore, predicted commission numbers of microbial enzymes, some of which are involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, fatty acids, and alpha amylase, differed based on the inoculum effect. However, these differences may account for only a small proportion of the overall metabolic pathway. Conversely, diets were found to affect protein biosynthesis and its related metabolism, which showed differential abundance in the growing diet and were potentially linked to the growth-promoting effects in beef cattle during the growing period. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that using different inocula significantly affected fermentation characteristics and microbiome features, mainly in the early stages of incubation, with some effects persisting up to 24 h of incubation.