Multiomic Analyses Reveal the Effects of Supplementing Phytosterols on the Metabolic Function of the Rumen Microbiota in Perinatal Cows
Donghai Lv, Jian Gao, Zichen Wu, Zhanying Sun, Lizhuang Hao, Suozhu Liu, Zhankun Tan, Yanfen Cheng, Weiyun Zhu
Abstract
Perinatal cows suffer serious physiological stress and energy deficiency. Phytosterols have bioactive functions for gut microbes. However, little knowledge is available on their effects on rumen microbiota and rumen fermentation. Results of the present experiment revealed that dietary supplementation of phytosterols could improve the growth of ruminal bacteria and changed the rumen fermentation to provide more glycogenetic precursors for the perinatal cows by modifying the ruminal bacteria community and altering the energy metabolism pathways of the rumen microbiota. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation of phytosterols would be beneficial for perinatal cows suffering from a negative energy balance.