The rumen microbiota and metabolism of dairy cows are affected by the dietary rate of inclusion of Yucca schidigera extract

Snelling, T.J., Condren, M., Huntington, J.A., Warren, H.E., Taylor-Pickard, J., Sinclair, L.A. and Claesen, J. (2025) The rumen microbiota and metabolism of dairy cows are affected by the dietary rate of inclusion of Yucca schidigera extract. Microbiology Spectrum. ISSN 2165-0497

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Abstract

Natural plant compounds can be used to supplement livestock diets, improving feed efficiency, production, and health, while also reducing environmental impact. In the present study, a Yucca schidigera (Mohave Yucca) extract was added at four rates of inclusion (ROI) of 0, 5, 15, or 30 g/day to a ryegrass and maize silage-based diet and fed to dairy cows in a 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design. Each period was 28 days in duration, with sampling undertaken during the final week of each period. Solid phase digesta (SPD) and liquid phase digesta (LPD) samples were collected via a rumen cannula and analyzed for volatile fatty acids (VFAs), ammonia N, and microbiome using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Total fecal and urine collection was undertaken over a 3-day period. Rumen microbial diversity was not affected by ROI (LPD: P = 0.180; SPD: P = 0.059). However, discriminant analysis found a decrease in Methanobrevibacter millerae (linear discriminant analysis, LDA = 2.15) and an increase in an unclassified species of Proteobacteria (LDA = 2.10) associated with ROI. Univariate analysis also revealed differential abundance of operational taxonomic units classified as Prevotellaceae and Fibrobacteraceae by ROI (P < 0.05). Maximum rumen ammonia N concentration decreased linearly from 228 to 109 mg/L with ROI (P = 0.044). Rumen VFA concentration was unaffected with the exception of propionate, which showed a linear increase with ROI (P = 0.010). The diurnal rumen pH range (maximum–minimum) also decreased with ROI (P = 0.004). Dry matter intake and milk yield were not affected (P > 0.05) by ROI; however, there was a linear increase in milk fat content from 38.9 to 42.0 g/kg with ROI (P < 0.05).

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	ammonia, microbiome, nitrogen
Divisions:	Agriculture and Environment (from 1.08.20)
Depositing User:	Miss Anna Cope
Date Deposited:	08 Jul 2025 13:26
Last Modified:	08 Jul 2025 13:26
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18238

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