Effects of Grazing in a Low Deciduous Forest on Rumen Microbiota and Volatile Fatty Acid Production in Lambs.

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of grazing the low deciduous forest (LDF) vegetation on the diversity of the rumen microbiome in growing lambs and its relationship with volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles. After a 35-day indoor acclimatization (stabilization period), the lambs were assigned to two groups: housed (CG, n = 4) and grazing (EG, n = 4). The grazing lambs had a 14-day habituation period in the LDF (4 h/day) and a further 30 grazing days when fodder intake was observed. Ruminal samples were collected at the end of the stabilization, on day 14 post-stabilization (14DPS), and on day 44 post-stabilization (44DPS). The ruminal butyrate concentration showed a progressive decrease of approximately 23% over the time (p = 0.0130). The qualitati

SUBMITTER: Avila-Cervantes R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12153761 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature