Multi-omics revealed the mechanism of feed efficiency in sheep by the combined action of the host and rumen microbiota

Guangchen Zhou; Junda Li; Xuhui Liang; Bohua Yang; Ximeng He; Hongyu Tang; Hongran Guo; Gongwei Liu; Wenyuan Cui; Yulin Chen; Yuxin Yang

Animal Nutrition (Sep 2024)

Multi-omics revealed the mechanism of feed efficiency in sheep by the combined action of the host and rumen microbiota

Guangchen Zhou,
Junda Li,
Xuhui Liang,
Bohua Yang,
Ximeng He,
Hongyu Tang,
Hongran Guo,
Gongwei Liu,
Wenyuan Cui,
Yulin Chen,
Yuxin Yang

Affiliations

Guangchen Zhou: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Junda Li: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Xuhui Liang: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Bohua Yang: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Ximeng He: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Hongyu Tang: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Hongran Guo: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Gongwei Liu: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Wenyuan Cui: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Yulin Chen: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Yuxin Yang: Corresponding author.; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18
pp. 367 – 379

Abstract

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This study was conducted to investigate potential regulatory mechanisms of feed efficiency (FE) in sheep by linking rumen microbiota with its host by the multi-omics analysis. One hundred and ninety-eight hybrid female sheep (initial body weight = 30.88 ± 4.57 kg; 4-month-old) were selected as candidate sheep. Each test sheep was fed in an individual pen for 60 days, and the residual feed intake (RFI) was calculated. The ten candidate sheep with the highest RFI were divided into the Low-FE group, and the ten with the lowest RFI were divided into the High-FE group, all selected for sample collection. The RFI, average daily gain and average daily feed intake were highly significantly different between the two experimental groups (P < 0.05). Compared with Low-FE group, the insulin-like growth factor-1 and very low-density lipoprotein in serum and the propionate in rumen significantly increased in High-FE group (P < 0.01), but the acetate:propionate ratio in rumen significantly decreased in High-FE group (P = 0.034). Metagenomics revealed Selenomonas ruminantium, Selenomonas sp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were key bacteria, and increased abundance of the genes encoding the enzymes for cellulose degradation and production of propionate in High-FE group. The results of proteomics and section showed the rumen papilla length and expression of carbonic anhydrase and Na+/K+-ATPase were significantly higher in High-FE group (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the acetyl-CoA content significantly increased in the liver of High-FE group (P = 0.002). The relative expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and apolipoprotein A4 genes were significantly up-regulated in the liver of High-FE group (P < 0.05), but relative expression level of monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 3 gene was significantly down-regulated (P = 0.037). These findings provide the mechanism by which the collaborative interaction between rumen microbiota fermentation and host uptake and metabolism of fermentation products impacts feed efficiency traits in sheep.

Published in Animal Nutrition

ISSN: 2405-6545 (Print)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/animal-nutrition/

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