Dietary energy sources and levels shift the multi-kingdom microbiota and functions in the rumen of lactating dairy cows

Background: Dietary energy source and level in lactation diets can profoundly affect milk yield and composition.Such dietary effects on lactation performance are underpinned by alteration of the rumen microbiota, of which bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protozoa may vary differently. However, few studies have examined all the four groups of rumen microbes. This study investigated the effect of both the level and source of dietary energy on rumen bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protozoa in the rumen of lactating dairy cows. A 2 × 2 factorial design resulted in four dietary treatments: low and high dietary energy levels(LE: 1.52–1.53;and HE: 1.71–1.72 Mcal/kg dry matter) and two dietary energy sources(GC: finely ground corn;and SFC: steam-flaked corn). We used a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design using eight primiparous Chinese Holstein cows with each period lasting for 21 d. The rumen microbiota was analyzed using metataxonomics based on kingdom-specific phylogenetic markers [16 S r RNA gene for bacteria and archaea, 18 S r RNA gene for protozoa, and internally transcribed spacer 1(ITS1) for fungi] followed with subsequent functional prediction using PICRUSt2.Results: The GC resulted in a higher prokaryotic(bacterial and archaeal) species richness and Faith's phylogenetic diversity than SFC. For the eukaryotic(fungi and protozoa) microbiota, the LE diets led to significantly higher values of the above measurements than the HE diets. Among the major classified taxa, 23 genera across all the kingdoms differed in relative abundance between the two dietary energy levels, while only six genera(none being protozoal)were differentially abundant between the two energy sources. Based on prokaryotic amplicon sequence variants(ASVs) from all the samples, overall functional profiles predicted using PICRUSt2 differed significantly between LE and HE but not between the two energy sources. Fish Taco analysis identified Ruminococcus and Coprococcus as the taxa potentially contributing to the enriched KEGG pathways for biosynthesis of amino acids and to the metabolisms of pyruvate, glycerophospholipid, and nicotinate and nicotinamide in the rumen of HE-fed cows. The co-occurrence networks were also affected by the dietary treatments, especially the LE and GC diets, resulting in distinct co-occurrence networks. Several microbial genera appeared to be strongly correlated with one or more lactation traits.Conclusions: Dietary energy level affected the overall rumen multi-kingdom microbiota while little difference was noted between ground corn and steam-flaked corn. Some genera were also affected differently by the four dietary treatments, including genera that had been shown to be correlated with lactation performance or feed efficiency.The co-occurrence patterns among the genera exclusively found for each dietary treatment may suggest possible metabolic interactions specifically affected by the dietary treatment. Some of the major taxa were positively correlated to milk properties and may potentially serve as biomarkers of one or more lactation traits.

Effects of Dietary Energy Level and Source on Blood Metabolites,Hormone Secretion and Follicular Fluid Composition in Gilts

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary energy levels and sources on the blood metabolites,hormone secretion and the composition of follicular fluid in gilts.Fifty-four gilts with initial body weight of(59±4.2) kg were randomly allotted to six treatments.Treatments were low, normal,and high energy feeding levels,which were 87.5%,100%and 112.5%of recommendatory energy requirements by NRC(1998),respectively,and dietary energy sources(starch or fat).Blood samples and follicular fluids were collected on D18 and D19 of the second estrous cycle.The results showed that plasma concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol were higher in the fat group than that in the starch group(P【0.05),but those of glucose were similar between the two energy sources(P】0.05);dietary energy level exerted no effect on blood metabolites concentration(P】0.05).Gilts fed the high energy diet had a higher area under curve of plasma insulin(Insulin AUC),insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ) and leptin than did gilts fed the lower energy diet(P【0.05),but there was no significant difference between fat versus starch(P】0.05).Luteinizing hormone(LH) pulses were higher in gilts fed high energy rather than that in low energy diets(P】0.05),plasma concentration of estradiol(E2) was higher in the fat group than that in the starch group(P【0.05).The number of large follicles(diameter≥4 mm) and concentrations of IGF-Ⅰand E2 in follicular fluid were increasing significant as the level of energy increased(P【0.05),but the numbers of large follicles and follicular fluid composition were not affected by the source of dietary energy(P】0.05).The results indicate that gilts fed high energy diets had elevated plasma concentrations of metabolic hormones,IGF-Ⅰand LH secretion,and increased follicular fluid concentrations of IGF-Ⅰ,E2 and numbers of large follicles;gilts fed the dietary fat had a higher plasma concentration of cholesterol and E2.

A comparison of average daily gain,apparent digestibilities,energy balance,rumen fermentation parameters,and serum metabolites between yaks(Bos grunniens)and Qaidam cattle(Bos taurus)consuming diets differing in energy level

Yaks(Bos grunniens),indigenous to the harsh Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,are well adapted to the severe conditions,and graze natural pasture without supplements all year round.Qaidam cattle(Bos taurus),introduced to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau 1,700 years ago,are raised at a lower altitude than yaks,provided with shelter at night and offered supplements in winter.Based on their different backgrounds,we hypothesized that yaks have lower energy requirements for maintenance than cattle.To test this hypothesis,we measured average daily gain(ADG),apparent digestibilities,energy balance,rumen fermentation parameters,and serum metabolites in growing yaks and cattle offered diets differing in metabolizable energy(ME)levels(6.62,8.02,9.42 and 10.80 MJ/kg),but with the same crude protein concentration.Six castrated yaks(155±5.8 kg)and 6 castrated Qaidam cattle(154±8.0 kg),all 2.5 years old,were used in 2 concurrent 4×4 Latin square designs.Neutral and acid detergent fiber digestibilities were greater(P<0.05)in yaks than in cattle,and decreased linearly(P<0.05)with increasing dietary energy level;whereas,digestibilities of dry matter,organic matter,crude protein and ether extract increased(P<0.05)linearly with increasing energy level.The ADG was greater(P<0.001)in yaks than in cattle,and increased(P<0.05)linearly with increasing energy levels.From the regressions of ADG on ME intake,the estimated ME requirement for maintenance was lower(P<0.05)in yaks than in cattle(0.43 vs.0.57 MJ/kg BW0.75).The ratios of digestible energy(DE):gross energy and ME:DE were higher(P<0.05)in yaks than in cattle,and increased(P<0.05)linearly with increasing dietary energy level.Ruminal pH decreased(P<0.05),whereas concentrations of total volatile fatty acids(VFAs)and ammonia increased(P<0.01)with increasing dietary energy level,and all were greater(P<0.05)in yaks than in cattle.Concentrations of ruminal acetate and iso-VFAs were greater(P<0.05),whereas propionate was lower(P<0.05)in yaks than in cattle;acetate decreased(P<0.001),whereas butyrate and propionate increased(P<0.001)linearly with increasing dietary energy level.Serum concentrations ofβ-hydroxybutyrate were lower(interaction,P<0.001)in yaks than in cattle fed diets of 9.42 and 10.80 MJ/kg,whereas non-esterified fatty acids were greater(interaction,P<0.01)in yaks than in cattle fed diets of 6.62 and 8.02 MJ/kg.Concentrations of serum leptin and growth hormone were greater in yaks than in cattle and serum insulin and growth hormone increased(P<0.01)linearly with increasing dietary energy level.Our hypothesis that yaks have lower energy requirements for maintenance than cattle was supported.This lower requirement confers an advantage to yaks over Qaidam cattle in consuming low energy diets during the long winter on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.