Influence of periparturient and postpartum diets on rumen methanogen communities in three breeds of primiparous dairy cows. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cersosimo, Laura; Bainbridge, Melissa; Kraft, Jana; Wright, André-Denis
• Is Part Of: BMC microbiology. Volume 16:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Archaea -- Diversity -- Holstein -- Holstein-Jersey -- Jersey -- 16S rRNA gene -- mcrA -- Volatile fatty acids; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.05
• DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0694-7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2180

Abstract

Abstract Background Enteric methane from rumen methanogens is responsible for 25.9 % of total methane emissions in the United States. Rumen methanogens also contribute to decreased animal feed efficiency. For methane mitigation strategies to be successful, it is important to establish which factors influence the rumen methanogen community and rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA). In the present study, we used next-generation sequencing to determine if dairy breed and/or days in milk (DIM) (high-fiber periparturient versus high-starch postpartum diets) affect the rumen environment and methanogen community of primiparous Holstein, Jersey, and Holstein-Jersey crossbreeds. Results When the 16S rRNA gene sequences were processed and assigned to operational taxonomic units (OTU), a core methanogen community was identified, consisting ofMethanobrevibacter (Mbr.) smithii, Mbr. thaueri, Mbr. ruminantium, andMbr. millerae . The 16S rRNA gene sequence reads clustered at 3 DIM, but not by breed. At 3 DIM, the mean % abundance ofMbr. thaueri was lower in Jerseys (26.9 %) and higher in Holsteins (30.7 %) and Holstein-Jersey crossbreeds (30.3 %) (P < 0.001). The molar concentrations of total VFA were higher at 3 DIM than at 93, 183, and 273 DIM, whereas the molar proportions of propionate were increased at 3 and 93 DIM, relative to 183 and 273 DIM. Rumen methanogen densities, distributions of theMbr. species, and VFA molar proportions did not differ by breed. Conclusions The data from the present study suggest that a core methanogen community is present among dairy breeds, through out a lactation. Furthermore, the methanogen communities were more influenced by DIM and the breed by DIM interactions than breed differences.