The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures
Pasture botanical diversity is known to change milk composition and improve dairy product quality. However, the chemical and physiological mechanisms behind this effect are only partially known and the role of ruminant’s microbiota is still unclear. To study the effects of pasture botanical biodiver...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Animal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173112500120X |
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| author | M. Musati M. Coppa C. Delbès I. Verdier-Metz M. Popova V. Niderkorn M. Bouchon Y. Farizon F. Enjalbert M. Renna C. Lussiana G. Mangione B. Martin A. Ferlay |
| author_facet | M. Musati M. Coppa C. Delbès I. Verdier-Metz M. Popova V. Niderkorn M. Bouchon Y. Farizon F. Enjalbert M. Renna C. Lussiana G. Mangione B. Martin A. Ferlay |
| author_sort | M. Musati |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pasture botanical diversity is known to change milk composition and improve dairy product quality. However, the chemical and physiological mechanisms behind this effect are only partially known and the role of ruminant’s microbiota is still unclear. To study the effects of pasture botanical biodiversity on rumen microbiota, fermentation parameters and milk composition of dairy cows, an in vivo experiment, including in vitro measurements, was carried out with two balanced groups of seven dairy cows each. After a 5-week pre-experimental period on a common permanent grassland plot, the two groups of cows grazed for 4 weeks (experimental period) on two plots characterised by contrasting levels of plant biodiversity: low diversity (LD; 19 species, mainly grasses) and high diversity (HD; 56 species, mostly dicots). Samples of simulated bites, rumen fluid, faeces, and milk were collected at the end of the pre-experimental and experimental periods. The species richness (α-diversity) of bacteria and fungi in the rumen and faeces of the cows did not differ between treatments, contrary to the composition and relative abundance (β-diversity) of bacterial and fungal communities. In addition, during in vitro rumen fermentation, total gas production of HD herbage was lower compared with LD, probably because of the different chemical characteristics of the substrates and the partial inhibition of bacterial activity by tannins. Furthermore, methane production in vitro was reduced in the HD group compared to the LD one, as indicated by the higher CO2:CH4 ratio. Thus, the differences in β-diversity may be explained both by herbage fibre and plant secondary metabolite contents. Plant tannins also protected dietary proteins from degradation, as indicated by the lower ammonia to CP ratio obtained in vitro in HD than in LD digesta. Comparable proportions of C18:3 n-3 were found in milk, despite the lower total fatty acid and C18:3 n-3 contents of the HD herbage. Plant secondary metabolites in the rumen could have partially inhibited the activity of ruminal bacteria responsible for the biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study explains how grazing dairy cows on permanent grasslands rich in plant biodiversity helps transferring polyunsaturated fatty acids from herbage to milk and likely reduces methane and ammonia emissions by influencing ruminal and faecal microbiota thanks to plant secondary metabolites. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ef4b17e6ad44b0cad48a9fc858fb96c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1751-7311 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Animal |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ef4b17e6ad44b0cad48a9fc858fb96c2025-08-20T02:17:19ZengElsevierAnimal1751-73112025-06-0119610153710.1016/j.animal.2025.101537The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pasturesM. Musati0M. Coppa1C. Delbès2I. Verdier-Metz3M. Popova4V. Niderkorn5M. Bouchon6Y. Farizon7F. Enjalbert8M. Renna9C. Lussiana10G. Mangione11B. Martin12A. Ferlay13Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France; Department Di3A, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, ItalyUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 0545 Fromage, F-15000 Aurillac, FranceUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 0545 Fromage, F-15000 Aurillac, FranceUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, FranceUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France; Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363 IndonesiaINRAE, UE1414 Herbipôle, 63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, FranceGenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INPT, F-31076 Toulouse, FranceGenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INPT, F-31076 Toulouse, FranceDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, ItalyDepartment Di3A, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, ItalyUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France; Corresponding author.Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, FrancePasture botanical diversity is known to change milk composition and improve dairy product quality. However, the chemical and physiological mechanisms behind this effect are only partially known and the role of ruminant’s microbiota is still unclear. To study the effects of pasture botanical biodiversity on rumen microbiota, fermentation parameters and milk composition of dairy cows, an in vivo experiment, including in vitro measurements, was carried out with two balanced groups of seven dairy cows each. After a 5-week pre-experimental period on a common permanent grassland plot, the two groups of cows grazed for 4 weeks (experimental period) on two plots characterised by contrasting levels of plant biodiversity: low diversity (LD; 19 species, mainly grasses) and high diversity (HD; 56 species, mostly dicots). Samples of simulated bites, rumen fluid, faeces, and milk were collected at the end of the pre-experimental and experimental periods. The species richness (α-diversity) of bacteria and fungi in the rumen and faeces of the cows did not differ between treatments, contrary to the composition and relative abundance (β-diversity) of bacterial and fungal communities. In addition, during in vitro rumen fermentation, total gas production of HD herbage was lower compared with LD, probably because of the different chemical characteristics of the substrates and the partial inhibition of bacterial activity by tannins. Furthermore, methane production in vitro was reduced in the HD group compared to the LD one, as indicated by the higher CO2:CH4 ratio. Thus, the differences in β-diversity may be explained both by herbage fibre and plant secondary metabolite contents. Plant tannins also protected dietary proteins from degradation, as indicated by the lower ammonia to CP ratio obtained in vitro in HD than in LD digesta. Comparable proportions of C18:3 n-3 were found in milk, despite the lower total fatty acid and C18:3 n-3 contents of the HD herbage. Plant secondary metabolites in the rumen could have partially inhibited the activity of ruminal bacteria responsible for the biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study explains how grazing dairy cows on permanent grasslands rich in plant biodiversity helps transferring polyunsaturated fatty acids from herbage to milk and likely reduces methane and ammonia emissions by influencing ruminal and faecal microbiota thanks to plant secondary metabolites.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173112500120XBiohydrogenationIn vitro fermentationRumen microbiotaRuminantTannins |
| spellingShingle | M. Musati M. Coppa C. Delbès I. Verdier-Metz M. Popova V. Niderkorn M. Bouchon Y. Farizon F. Enjalbert M. Renna C. Lussiana G. Mangione B. Martin A. Ferlay The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures Animal Biohydrogenation In vitro fermentation Rumen microbiota Ruminant Tannins |
| title | The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures |
| title_full | The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures |
| title_fullStr | The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures |
| title_short | The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures |
| title_sort | ruminal and faecal microbiota digestion processes and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures |
| topic | Biohydrogenation In vitro fermentation Rumen microbiota Ruminant Tannins |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173112500120X |
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