A team led by Prof. TAN Zhiliang from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delineated the temporal succession patterns of rumen microbiota and explore its correlation with average daily gain (ADG)—a key indicator of growth performance.

The latest study published in Animal Microbiome on Feb 3.

The rumen microbiota exerts a pivotal function in modulating the growth performance of host ruminants, predominantly through its indispensable capacity for feed fermentation and nutrient metabolism. Notably, Hulunbuir sheep, a renowned indigenous breed adapted to alpine pastoral environments, display a relatively slower growth rate compared with other local sheep breeds.

In their study, metagenomic analysis of rumen content samples from the early to late fattening stages in Hulunbuir sheep were utilized to investigate the patterns of microbial growth and their relationship with the ADG.

The results indicated that the rumen microbiome of Hulunbuir sheep underwent distinct developmental and functional changes as the animals age, which were closely linked to their lower ADG. Key microbial transitions were occurred post-weaning, with a delayed maturation phase characterized by specific taxa such as Sodaliphilus and Cryptobacteroides, followed by a later shift to a Prevotella-dominated community.

Functionally, carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes act as potential regulators of host growth performance, possibly through the modulation of GH and IGF1 pathways.

The findings provide novel microbial insights into the growth regulation of indigenous sheep breeds, and offer a theoretical foundation for developing targeted interventions—such as microbial modulation and nutritional optimization—to enhance growth efficiency and production sustainability in Hulunbuir sheep.

Contact: KANG Jinhe

E-mail: kangjh@isa.ac.cn

Figure 1 Regulation of average daily gain by rumen bacteria in Hulunbuir sheep(Imaged by KANG Jinhe)