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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1561336
This article is part of the Research Topic Unravelling the Unknown of the Rumen Microbiome: Implications for Animal Health, Productivity, and Beyond View all 19 articles
Microbial Insights into Ruminal Fiber Degradation and Feed Efficiency of Hu Sheep
Provisionally accepted
Haoyu Xu 1 Guoxiu Wang 1 Qihao Gao 1 Zhen Liu 1 Jiale Jia 1 Yunfei Xu 1
Zhanyu Chen 1 Baosheng Li 2
Chong Li 1*- 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
- 2 Gansu Runmu Bio-Engineering Co.,LTD, Yongchang, Gansu, Jinchang, China
Ruminal fiber degradation is essential for feed conversion efficiency in sheep; however, it remains unclear whether individual variations in ruminal fiber degradation directly affect feed conversion efficiency. Here, the relationship between ruminal fiber degradation rate and feed conversion efficiency and influence of rumen structure, function, and microbiota on fiber degradation were investigated. A total of 190 male Hu lambs were randomly selected, raised from birth to 180 days, and slaughtered. The relationships between ruminal fiber degradation rate and feed conversion efficiency, growth performance, and ruminal fermentation parameters were analyzed. Key microorganisms influencing ruminal fiber degradation were identified using multiple methods: microbial wide association study, correlation analysis, and differential abundance analysis. Both neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) degradation rates were significantly correlated with feed conversion efficiency and intake. Seven genera were closely associated with NDF degradation rate: 6 belonged to Firmicutes (Anaerotruncus,
Keywords: Sheep, rumen fiber degradation, Feed conversion efficiency, rumen microbiota, growth traits Veillonellaceae_UCG-001), 1, Bacteroidetes
Received: 16 Jan 2025; Accepted: 02 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Xu, Wang, Gao, Liu, Jia, Xu, Chen, Li and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Chong Li, College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
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