biostudies-literatureUnknown13Ricci SBundesministerium für Digitalisierung und WirtschaftsstandortÖsterreichische Nationalstiftung für Forschung, Technologie und EntwicklungChristian Doppler ForschungsgesellschaftMicrobial composition and activity in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of cattle has important implications for animal health and welfare, driving the focus of research toward ways to modify their function and abundance. However, our understanding of microbial adaption to nutritional changes remains limited. The aim of this study was to examine the progressive mechanisms of adaptation in the rumen and hindgut of cattle receiving increasing amounts of starch with or without dietary supplementation of a blended phytogenic feed additive (PFA; containing menthol, thymol and eugenol). We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to assess the microbial composition and predicted metabolic pathways in ruminal solid and liquid digesta, and feces. Furthermore, we employed targeted liquid chromatographFrontiers in microbiology920427https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9354822biostudies-literatureProgressive microbial adaptation of the bovine rumen and hindgut in response to a step-wise increase in dietary starch and the influence of phytogenic supplementation.PMC9354822Zebeli QPacifico CRivera-Chacon RReisinger NRicci SPetri RMSchwartz-Zimmermann HEBerthiller FCastillo-Lopez EfalseProgressive microbial adaptation of the bovine rumen and hindgut in response to a step-wise increase in dietary starch and the influence of phytogenic supplementation.Microbial composition and activity in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of cattle has important implications for animal health and welfare, driving the focus of research toward ways to modify their function and abundance. However, our understanding of microbial adaption to nutritional changes remains limited. The aim of this study was to examine the progressive mechanisms of adaptation in the rumen and hindgut of cattle receiving increasing amounts of starch with or without dietary supplementation of a blended phytogenic feed additive (PFA; containing menthol, thymol and eugenol). We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to assess the microbial composition and predicted metabolic pathways in ruminal solid and liquid digesta, and feces. Furthermore, we employed targeted liquid chromatograph2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-05-09T14:10:52.33Z2024-11-19T22:28:35.011ZS-EPMC93548223593523210.3389/fmicb.2022.920427