Evaluation of Changes in the Levels of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes Phyla of Sheep Feces Depending on the Breed

Abstract

Studies carried out so far have indicated the effect of the microbiome on the composition of ruminant products. Recent studies have shown that not only diet, but also genetic factors can affect the microbiological composition of the digestive system. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the levels of selected bacterial phyla in terms of breed differences. Three sheep breeds, i.e., Olkuska, Romanov, and old-type Polish Merino, differing in their use (meat–wool, meat, prolificacy) and country of breed origin were included in the study. Sheep at the same age and of the same sex were kept for a period of 3 months in the same environmental conditions and fed the same feed in the same proportions. The study included real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis of feces collected before the slaughter and measurements of body weight and chilled carcasses. The obtained results showed significant differences between the breeds in the levels of bacterial populations tested. There were also differences in body weight between the breeds during the first weight measurements, however, the final results did not show any differences—after three months of maintenance all of them reached similar body weights, despite differences in fecal microbiological composition. The study suggests that in addition to diet and environmental conditions, the microbiology can also be influenced by breed.

Inter and intraspecies comparison of the level of selected bacterial phyla in in cattle and sheep based on feces

“…Fecal samples were collected individually from each examined animal up to 10 s after defecation into sterile containers (100 ml) (biological samples were collected twice – morning and evening, once), transported to the laboratory in a thermal container (at − 5 °C, 15 min), then frozen to − 26 °C until analysis (20 days) [ 15 ].…”

“…The level of impurities in the samples was 2.0–2.2 for parameter 260/230: and 1.8–2.0 for parameter 260/280. In the case of high levels of impurities or possibly low-quality DNA, the samples were re-isolated or cleaned with the Clean-up Concentrator (A&A Biotechnology, Gdańsk, Poland) [ 15 ]. The main problem in DNA isolation from fecal samples was the occurrence of various types of inhibitors that interfered with Taq polymerase and / or primer, which include causes a decrease in primer efficiency etc., more information Taylor et al [ 16 ].…”

“…The real-time PCR analysis strategy was based on the amplification of genes specific for the tested phyla against the reference primer for all bacteria (16S). The reference primers were 16S universal eubacterial genes (Table 2 ) [ 15 , 17 – 19 ].…”

“…The analysis of the melting curves for the samples was performed at temperatures ranging from 65 °C (5 s) to 95 °C (0.5 °C increments in 2 s). The sample with a DNA level of 100 μg/μL and impurities at a level in line with the above mentioned standards was an arbitrary calibrator [ 15 ].…”

Wybrane czynniki wpływające na mikrobiom układu pokarmowego przeżuwaczy i jego skład bazowy.

“…Doświadczenia nad odziedziczalnością mikrobiomu sugerują jego potencjalną dziedziczność przez pośredni związek z rasą. Badania przeprowadzone na trzech rasach owiec, utrzymywanych w takich samych warunkach oraz żywione tą samą paszą, wykazały zmnieność w składzie podstawowego mikrobiomu między rasami [71]. Podobne rezultaty uzyskał także w swoich badaniach na bydle i jakach Xin i in.…”