Programming rumen microbiome development in calves with the anti-methanogenic compound 3-NOP.

Anim Microbiome

CSIRO, Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia.

Published: October 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study investigated the effects of the anti-methanogenic compound 3-NOP on rumen microbial profiles and fermentation in pregnant heifers and their offspring, monitoring changes up to 12 months post-treatment withdrawal.
  • Results showed significant shifts in fermentation processes, increased beneficial fatty acids, and altered microbial populations in 3-NOP treated animals, leading to a notable decrease in methane emissions during the juvenile stage.
  • Early interventions in the rumen microbiome of calves have lasting effects, with treated young animals showing a microbiome composition resembling low methane adult cattle, although the benefits diminished once the treatment ended.

Article Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish a distinctive rumen microbial and fermentation profile using the anti-methanogenic compound 3-NOP to assess dam effect, and nutritional intervention of the juvenile offspring on microbial structure and function of rumen up to 12 months of age, once the treatment was withdrawn. Forty-eight pregnant heifers (H) and their future offspring (C) were allocated to either Control (-) or 3-NOP (+) treatment resulting in four experimental groups: H+/C+, H+/C-, H-/C + and H-/C-. Animals were treated from 6 weeks prior to calving until weaning, with the offspring monitored until 12 months of age. Rumen fluid samples and methane measurements using the Greenfeed system were collected during the trial. Results supported the mode of action of the compound, with a shift in fermentation from acetate to propionate, increases in branched chain fatty acids and formic acid in the 3-NOP treated animals. Similar shifts in microbial populations occurred in 3-NOP treated animals with lower abundances of rumen methanogen populations, increases of bacterial groups Succiniclasticum spp, Candidatus Saccharimonas. Fibrobacter and the families Prevotellaceae and Succinivibrioacea. and the protozoa Entodinium. Early life intervention had an enduring impact on the rumen microbial structure of young animals up to 28 weeks post weaning, however the effect was diminished once 3-NOP was withdrawn. Interestingly, a group of young animals emitted significantly less methane (15%) than the animals that did not receive the treatment during their juvenile stage. Our results suggest a higher resemblance of the young calf microbiome to a low methane adult and that early life colonisation of the rumen persists through to later life with the pre-weaning microbiome comprising ~ 65% of the yearling animal. Further research needs to be performed to determine the timing and dose of 3-NOP for new-born calves that can sustain a reduction in methane emissions after the treatment is withdrawn, under extensive grazing or controlled conditions.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11515290PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s42523-024-00343-2DOI Listing

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