Composition of Ileal Bacterial Community in Grazing Goats Varies across Non-rumination, Transition and Rumination Stages of Life

Abstract

The establishment of gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a crucial action in neonatal development, host health and productivity. We hypothesized that the ileal microbiome shifted as goats matured, and this colonization process would be associated with host fermentation capacity. To this end, 18 Liuyang black grazing goats were randomly slaughtered at d 0, 7, 28, 42, and 70. Ileal microbiota was profiled by Miseq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene of bacteria, and fermentation capacity [volatile fatty acid, activities of amylase, carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) and xylanase] was determined using digesta sample. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that each age group harbored its distinct bacteria. Total bacteria copy number and most alpha diversity indexes increased (P < 0.01) from d 0 to 70. At the phylum level, abundances of Cyanobacteria (P = 0.018) and TM7 (P = 0.010) increased linearly, abundances of Bacteroidetes (P = 0.075) and Fibrobacteres (P = 0.076) tended to increase linearly, whist Proteobacteria abundance tended to decline quadratically (P = 0.052) with age. At the genus level, Enterococcus (30.9%), Lactobacillus (32.8%), and Escherichia (2.0%) dominated at d 0, while Prevotella, Butyrivibrio, Ruminococcus, SMB53, and Fibrobacter surged in abundance after day 20. The highest amylase activity was observed at day 42, while xylanase activity increased quadratically (P = 0.002) from days 28 to 70. Correlation analysis indicated that abundances of Bacteroides, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, Propionibacterium, Enterococcus, and p-75-a5 positively correlated with enzyme activity. Collectively, ileal bacteria in grazing goats assemble into distinct communities throughout development, and might participate in the improvement of host fermentation capacity.

Characterizing the bacterial community across the gastrointestinal tract of goats: Composition and potential function

“…In addition, significant differences in the diversity and richness of bacteria among the GIT regions ( (Gong et al, 2017;Jiao et al, 2016;Mao et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2016). In the present study, all of these factors were consistent for the 12 experimental goats; however, the relative abundances of the dominant phyla and genera varied considerably among the GIT compartments, which emphasized that the sampling site was the major determinant of the microbial composition and community structure along the GIT.…”

“…All of our experimental results mentioned above indicated that significant differences in microbial diversity existed among the GIT sections. Previous studies have shown that the bacterial composition of animal GITs is mainly affected by animal species, age, sex, genetics, environment, and the dietary composition (Gong et al., ; Jiao et al., ; Mao et al., ; Wang et al., ). In the present study, all of these factors were consistent for the 12 experimental goats; however, the relative abundances of the dominant phyla and genera varied considerably among the GIT compartments, which emphasized that the sampling site was the major determinant of the microbial composition and community structure along the GIT.…”

Impact of high‐grain diet feeding on mucosa‐associated bacterial community and gene expression of tight junction proteins in the small intestine of goats

“…At the phylum level, the phyla Proteobacteria (59.33% in jejunal mucosa and 56.71% in ileal mucosa) and Firmicutes (38.83% in jejunal mucosa and 40.30% in ileal mucosa) dominated the bacterial community of jejunal and ileal mucosa. These two phyla are also highly abundant in the ileum of juvenile goats (Jiao et al, ) and jejunum and ileum of Sika Deer (Li et al, ). The common distribution of these microbiota from different ruminants indicates their general importance in specific function of small intestine in ruminants.…”

“…in jejunal mucosa and 40.30% in ileal mucosa) dominated the bacterial community of jejunal and ileal mucosa. These two phyla are also highly abundant in the ileum of juvenile goats (Jiao et al, 2016) and jejunum and ileum of Sika Deer (Li et al, 2018 (Ialenti et al, 2006).…”

Goat domestication and breeding: a jigsaw of historical, biological and molecular data with missing pieces

“…) and the age and feeding system (Jiao et al . ) on ruminal microbiota have been studied. In contrast, the influence of the microbiome on mammary gland physiology and milk composition has been characterized less well, although mastitis is one of the main factors determining the involuntary culling of dairy goats.…”