Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Beneficial changes in rumen bacterial community profile in sheep and dairy calves as a result of feeding the probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57

View Altmetrics

Schofield, B. J., Lachner, N., Le, O. T., McNeill, D. M., Dart, P., Ouwerkerk, D., Hugenholtz, P. and Klieve, A. V. (2018) Beneficial changes in rumen bacterial community profile in sheep and dairy calves as a result of feeding the probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 124 (3). pp. 855-866. ISSN 1365-2672

Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link.

Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jam.13688

Abstract

Aims The probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57 increased weight gain, increased nitrogen retention and increased feed intake in ruminants when administered to the diet. This study aims to develop a better understanding of this probiotic effect by analysing changes in the rumen prokaryotic community. Methods and Results Sequencing the 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons of the rumen microbiome, revealed that ewes fed H57 had a significantly different rumen microbial community structure to Control sheep. By contrast, dairy calves showed no significant differences in rumen community structure between treatment groups. In both instances, H57 was below detection in the rumen community profile and only present at low relative abundance as determined by qPCR. Conclusions The altered rumen microbial community in sheep likely contributes to increased weight gain through more efficient digestion of plant material. As no change occurred in the rumen community of dairy calves it is suggested that increased weight gain may be due to changes in community function rather than structure. The low relative abundance of H57 as determined by qPCR, suggests that weight gain was not directly mediated by the probiotic, but rather by influencing animal behaviour (feed consumption) and/or altering the native rumen community structure or function. Significance and Impact of Study This study provides a novel look at the rumen prokaryotic community in both sheep and dairy calves when fed H57. These findings improve our understanding for the potential rumen community involvement in H57-enabled weight gain. The study reveals that the probiotic B. amyloliquefaciens H57 is capable of benefiting ruminants without colonising the rumen, suggesting an indirect mechanism of action. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Animal Science
Keywords:Rumen Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57 probiotic community profile sheep dairy calves
Subjects:Animal culture > Cattle
Animal culture > Sheep
Veterinary medicine > Veterinary microbiology
Veterinary medicine > Veterinary bacteriology
Animal culture > Feeds and feeding. Animal nutrition
Live Archive:17 Jan 2018 01:37
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:51

Repository Staff Only: item control page