Alterations in rumen microbiota via oral fiber administration during early life in dairy cows

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 10798
• Main Authors: Kodithuwakku, Heshan, Maruyama, Daiki, Owada, Hisashi, Watabe, Yuto, Miura, Hiroto, Suzuki, Yutaka, Hirano, Kazuo, Kobayashi, Yasuo, Koike, Satoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 24.06.2022; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Dairy cattle; Lactation; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Parturition; rRNA 16S; Rumen; Weaning
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15155-0

Abstract Bacterial colonization in the rumen of pre-weaned ruminants is important for their growth and post-weaning productivity. This study evaluated the effects of oral fiber administration during the pre-weaning period on the development of rumen microbiota from pre-weaning to the first lactation period. Twenty female calves were assigned to control and treatment groups (n = 10 each). Animals in both groups were reared using a standard feeding program throughout the experiment, except for oral fiber administration (50–100 g/day/animal) from 3 days of age until weaning for the treatment group. Rumen content was collected during the pre-weaning period, growing period, and after parturition. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that oral fiber administration facilitated the early establishment of mature rumen microbiota, including a relatively higher abundance of Prevotella , Shuttleworthia , Mitsuokella , and Selenomonas . The difference in the rumen microbial composition between the dietary groups was observed even 21 days after parturition, with a significantly higher average milk yield in the first 30 days of lactation. Therefore, oral fiber administration to calves during the pre-weaning period altered rumen microbiota, and its effect might be long-lasting until the first parturition.