Cellulase enhancing rumen microbiome of Tan sheep indicates plastic responses to seasonal variations of diet in the typical steppe.

Background: Climate and geographical changes significantly influence food availability and nutrient composition over time and space, Which in turn affects the selection of microbial communities essential for maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis and facilitating dietary adaptation. Therefore, it is essential to understand the specific responses of the gut microbiota to dietary and seasonal variations in order to improve animal conservation strategies based on solid scientific knowledge.

Results: In summer, due to the higher nutritional quality of forage, Tan sheep exhibited enhanced forage degradation and fermentation. This was reflected by increased populations of key rumen bacteria, including Bacteroidetes, Prevotella_1, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Ruminococcus_1, Saccharofermentans, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014. Supplementation with cellulase further facilitated these processes, optimizing the utilization of available nutrients. In contrast, during winter, when the nutritional quality of forage decline, we observed lower indicators of forage degradation and fermentation in Tan sheep. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, microbial diversity, microbial interactions, and metabolic activity.

Conclusions: The rumen microbiota adapts to enhance the breakdown of forage biomass and maintain energy balance during periods of inadequate nutritional value. Supplementing the diet with cellulase during these times can help mitigate the reduced digestibility associated with low-quality forage. This study highlights the dynamic adaptation of the rumen microbiota to seasonal variations in forage quality and emphasizes the potential benefits of cellulase supplementation in supporting rumen function and improving animal performance under varying environmental conditions.