Alterations in the Rumen Particle-Associated Microbiota of Goats in Response to Dietary Supplementation Levels of Schizochytrium spp

Alexandros Mavrommatis, Dimitrios Skliros, Marica Simoni, Federico Righi, Emmanouil Flemetakis and Eleni Tsiplakou
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Alexandros Mavrommatis: Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, GR-11855 Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Skliros: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, GR-11855 Athens, Greece
Marica Simoni: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
Federico Righi: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
Emmanouil Flemetakis: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, GR-11855 Athens, Greece
Eleni Tsiplakou: Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, GR-11855 Athens, Greece

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: Fat rich microorganisms, such as microalgae Schizochytrium spp., are potential biotechnological tools in the modulation of rumen microbiome towards ecofriendly and high nutritional value end-products. However, limited in vivo trials have been reported on the topic. The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge on the effect of fat rich microalgae on the methanogenic and feed degrading particle-associated microbes in goats’ rumen content. For the trial, twenty-four goats were divided into four homogenous clusters (six goats/treatment) according to their fat corrected (4%) milk yield, body weight and age and individually were fed with alfalfa hay and concentrate feeds (F/C = 50/50). The concentrate of the control group (CON) contained no microalgae, while those of the treated groups were supplemented daily with 20 (ALG20), 40 (ALG40), and 60 (ALG60) g of Schizochytrium spp./goat. The relative abundances of total Archaea, methanogens, Methanomassiliicoccales, Methanobrevibacter spp., Methanosphaera stadmanae and Methanobacterium formicicum were significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased in microalgae-fed goats compared to the CON ones. Moreover, a significant decline in the relative abundances of Firmicutes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Butyrivibrio fibrosolvents , and Neocallimastigales in the rumen particle-associated microbiota of microalgae supplemented goats were observed. In conclusion, goats’ diets supplementation with Schizochytrium spp., could be considered a sustainable nutritional strategy for methanogens inhibition in their rumen particle-associated microbiota.

Keywords: efficiency; goat; methane; microalgae; microorganisms; rumen (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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