AUTHOR=Daghio Matteo , Ciucci Francesca , Buccioni Arianna , Cappucci Alice , Casarosa Laura , Serra Andrea , Conte Giuseppe , Viti Carlo , McAmmond Breanne M. , Van Hamme Jonathan D. , Mele Marcello TITLE=Correlation of Breed, Growth Performance, and Rumen Microbiota in Two Rustic Cattle Breeds Reared Under Different Conditions JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.652031 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.652031 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=

The use of rustic cattle is desirable to face challenges brought on by climate change. Maremmana (MA) and Aubrac (AU) are rustic cattle breeds that can be successfully used for sustainable production. In this study, correlations between two rearing systems (feedlot and grazing) and the rumen microbiota, the lipid composition of rumen liquor (RL), and the growth performance of MA and AU steers were investigated. Bacterial community composition was characterized by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, and the RL lipid composition was determined by measuring fatty acid (FA) and the dimethyl acetal profiles. The main factor influencing bacterial community composition was the cattle breed. Some bacterial groups were positively correlated to average daily weight gain for the two breeds (i.e., Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Fibrobacter and Succiniclasticum in the rumen of MA steers, and Succinivibrionaceae UCG-002 in the rumen of AU steers); despite this, animal performance appeared to be influenced by short chain FAs production pathways and by the presence of H2 sinks that divert the H2 to processes alternative to the methanogenesis.