Characterization of Rumen Microbiota of Two Sheep Breeds Supplemented With Direct-Fed Lactic Acid Bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Supplementation of direct-fed microbials into ruminants' nutrition has shown great potential in manipulating rumen fermentation and enhancing productive animal performance. However, little is known about rumen microbial composition and diversity of Damara and Meatmaster sheep, breeds indigenous to South Africa. The study aimed at exploring and comparing the rumen microbiomes of two breeds with different feeding treatments as follows: no antibiotic, no probiotics (T1), only potential probiotic (T2), only potential probiotic (T3), the combination of potential probiotics (T4), antibiotic (T5); using a metagenomic approach. The results showed that based on the Shannon index, the microbial diversity of Damara was higher (p < 0.05) than Meatmaster, while treatment T4 was higher than treat

SUBMITTER: Mani S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7843511 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature