The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Fasting on the Ruminal Microbial Population of Commercial Angus Steers
Diet impacts the composition of the ruminal microbiota; however, prior to slaughter, cattle are fasted, which may change the ruminal microbial ecosystem structure and lead to dysbiosis. The objective of this study was to determine changes occurring in the rumen after pre-slaughter fasting, which can...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2625 |
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| author | Christina Breanne Welch Jeferson M. Lourenco Darren S. Seidel Taylor Rae Krause Michael J. Rothrock T. Dean Pringle Todd R. Callaway |
| author_facet | Christina Breanne Welch Jeferson M. Lourenco Darren S. Seidel Taylor Rae Krause Michael J. Rothrock T. Dean Pringle Todd R. Callaway |
| author_sort | Christina Breanne Welch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Diet impacts the composition of the ruminal microbiota; however, prior to slaughter, cattle are fasted, which may change the ruminal microbial ecosystem structure and lead to dysbiosis. The objective of this study was to determine changes occurring in the rumen after pre-slaughter fasting, which can allow harmful pathogens an opportunity to establish in the rumen. Ruminal samples were collected before and after pre-slaughter fasting from seventeen commercial Angus steers. DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to determine the ruminal microbiota, as well as volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Microbial richness (Chao 1 index), evenness, and Shannon diversity index all increased after fasting (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.040). During fasting, the two predominant families <i>Prevotellaceae</i> and <i>Ruminococcaceae</i> decreased (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.029), whereas the remaining minor families increased (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Fasting increased <i>Blautia</i> and <i>Methanosphaera</i> (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.003), while <i>Campylobacter</i> and <i>Treponema</i> tended to increase (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.086). Butyrate concentration tended to decrease (<i>p</i> = 0.068) after fasting. The present findings support that fasting causes ruminal nutrient depletion resulting in dysbiosis, allowing opportunistic pathogens to exploit the void in the ruminal ecological niche. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:31:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d4c35a06d294f71ad8c2485bd281f4b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:31:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d4c35a06d294f71ad8c2485bd281f4b2023-11-23T09:40:49ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-12-01912262510.3390/microorganisms9122625The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Fasting on the Ruminal Microbial Population of Commercial Angus SteersChristina Breanne Welch0Jeferson M. Lourenco1Darren S. Seidel2Taylor Rae Krause3Michael J. Rothrock4T. Dean Pringle5Todd R. Callaway6Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USAEgg Safety and Quality Research Unit, Richard B. Russell Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Athens, GA 30605, USADepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADiet impacts the composition of the ruminal microbiota; however, prior to slaughter, cattle are fasted, which may change the ruminal microbial ecosystem structure and lead to dysbiosis. The objective of this study was to determine changes occurring in the rumen after pre-slaughter fasting, which can allow harmful pathogens an opportunity to establish in the rumen. Ruminal samples were collected before and after pre-slaughter fasting from seventeen commercial Angus steers. DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to determine the ruminal microbiota, as well as volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Microbial richness (Chao 1 index), evenness, and Shannon diversity index all increased after fasting (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.040). During fasting, the two predominant families <i>Prevotellaceae</i> and <i>Ruminococcaceae</i> decreased (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.029), whereas the remaining minor families increased (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Fasting increased <i>Blautia</i> and <i>Methanosphaera</i> (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.003), while <i>Campylobacter</i> and <i>Treponema</i> tended to increase (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.086). Butyrate concentration tended to decrease (<i>p</i> = 0.068) after fasting. The present findings support that fasting causes ruminal nutrient depletion resulting in dysbiosis, allowing opportunistic pathogens to exploit the void in the ruminal ecological niche.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2625microbiomerumensteerfastingdysbiosisslaughter |
| spellingShingle | Christina Breanne Welch Jeferson M. Lourenco Darren S. Seidel Taylor Rae Krause Michael J. Rothrock T. Dean Pringle Todd R. Callaway The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Fasting on the Ruminal Microbial Population of Commercial Angus Steers Microorganisms microbiome rumen steer fasting dysbiosis slaughter |
| title | The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Fasting on the Ruminal Microbial Population of Commercial Angus Steers |
| title_full | The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Fasting on the Ruminal Microbial Population of Commercial Angus Steers |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Fasting on the Ruminal Microbial Population of Commercial Angus Steers |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Fasting on the Ruminal Microbial Population of Commercial Angus Steers |
| title_short | The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Fasting on the Ruminal Microbial Population of Commercial Angus Steers |
| title_sort | impact of pre slaughter fasting on the ruminal microbial population of commercial angus steers |
| topic | microbiome rumen steer fasting dysbiosis slaughter |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2625 |
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