COMBINED ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEEDING SYSTEMS ON RUMEN MICROBIOTA IN GOATS Authors: Yangzong Zhaxi, Haiyan Li, Cheng Pan, Tianzeng Song, Wangsheng Zhao Journal: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences (JAPS) ISSN: 1018-7081 (Print), 2309-8694 (Online) Volume: 36 Issue: 6 Year: 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2026.6.0147 URL: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2026.6.0147 Publisher: Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum Abstract:

Different feeding methods are associated with differences in the health status and rumen microbial community of goats, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this experiment, Nanjiang Yellow sheep (NYG) were randomly divided into the barn feeding group (BF) and the grazing group (GF) (16 sheep in each group; 8 replicates, 2 sheep in each replicate). After the experiment, 6 sheep were randomly selected from each group for subsequent sample collection (n = 6). Serum biochemical indicators, rumen enzyme activities and rumen microbial flora composition were comprehensively analyzed by ELISA, colorimetric method and 16S rRNA sequencing respectively to evaluate the effects of pen feeding and grazing on NYG. The results showed that these two feeding systems, which differ in diet composition, nutrient consistency and forage physical structure, were associated with differences in the composition and abundance of rumen microbiota. Compared to GF, the relative abundances of Armatimonadota, Patescibacteria, Desulfobacterota, and Planctomycetota in the rumen were significantly lower in the BF group (P ≤ 0.05), while Elusimicrobiota, unclassified Synergistota and Cyanobacteria were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05). Functional prediction analysis using PICRUSt2 revealed that amino acid metabolism, cofactor and vitamin metabolism were the most abundant metabolic pathways in the rumen. These findings suggest that alterations in management systems are associated with changes in the abundance of specific rumen microbial phyla, including Armatimonadota, Desulfobacterota, Elusimicrobiota, and Cyanobacteria. Additionally, these systems are associated with differences in amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin metabolic pathways. These results enhance our understanding of diet- and management system-microbiota in goats and provide a basis for optimizing feeding strategies under different management systems.

Keywords: Goat; Feeding systems; Serum biochemical indexes; Rumen enzyme activity; Rumen microbiota