RT Journal T1 COMBINED ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEEDING SYSTEMS ON RUMEN MICROBIOTA IN GOATS A1 Yangzong Zhaxi A1 Haiyan Li A1 Cheng Pan A1 Tianzeng Song A1 Wangsheng Zhao JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JO JAPS SN 1018-7081 VO 36 IS 6 YR 2026 FD 2026 DO DOI https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2026.6.0147 AB

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.

K1 Goat; Feeding systems; Serum biochemical indexes; Rumen enzyme activity; Rumen microbiota PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2025-JAPS-887