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Rumen bacteria and meat fatty acid composition of Sunit sheep reared under different feeding regimens in China
Author(s) -
Wang Bohui,
Luo Yulong,
Wang Yu,
Wang Debao,
Hou Yanru,
Yao Duo,
Tian Jianjun,
Jin Ye
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.10720
Subject(s) - rumen , conjugated linoleic acid , biology , vaccenic acid , polyunsaturated fatty acid , linoleic acid , pasture , fatty acid , zoology , grazing , straw , food science , agronomy , fermentation , biochemistry
BACKGROUND Rumen bacteria play a critical role in feed degradation and productivity. This study evaluated the impact of feeding regimen on the rumen microbial populations and fatty acid composition of the meat of sheep. Twenty‐four Sunit sheep were raised on a grass pasture from birth to 9 months of age, at which time they were randomly divided into two feeding groups: pasture feeding (PF) and barn feeding (BF). Sheep in the PF group were allowed to graze freely on wild grassland for 3 months. Sheep in the BF group were confined for 3 months to a dry barn, in which they roamed freely with corn straw and corn. RESULTS Sheep in the PF group had greater rumen bacteria diversity. The relative abundances of the genera Butyrivibrio_2 , Saccharofermentans and Succiniclasticum were increased, and that of the genus RC9_gut_group was decreased, in the PF compared to the BF sheep. The n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid contents were greater in meat from PF sheep than from BF sheep. In addition, the α‐linolenic acid (C18:3 n‐3, ALA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) contents were positively correlated with the abundance of Butyrivibrio_2.CONCLUSION Grazing may improve the diversity of rumen bacteria and increase the proportion of ALA and CLA in sheep meat. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry