Influence of high temperature and humidity on rumen bacterial diversity in Holstein heifers.
The effect of heat and humidity stresses on the rumen bacterial molecular diversity of heifers was studied. No statistically significant changes in the rumen microbiota composition were found in the first experiment (average body mass 250kg) while in the second and third experiments (additional variables included the relative humidity and body weight), the microbiota composition was significantly different at elevated environmental temperatures and humidity. These shifts were accompanied by the decrease in concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the rumen.
Tajima
Kiyoshi
K
National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan. ktajima@affrc.go.jp
Nonaka
Itoko
I
Higuchi
Kouji
K
Takusari
Naozumi
N
Kurihara
Mitsunori
M
Takenaka
Akio
A
Mitsumori
Makoto
M
Kajikawa
Hiroshi
H
Aminov
Rustam I
RI
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044822:Biodiversity; D002417:Cattle; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D006813:Humidity; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012417:Rumen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013696:Temperature
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S