Differences in production performance, fore-digestive tract microbiota, and expression levels of nutrient transporters of Hu sheep with different feed conversion ratio

ABSTRACT Increasing strain on feed resources has led to a gradual increase in feed input costs, making it necessary to improve feed efficiency in livestock and poultry. In this study, Hu sheep were divided into two groups (high and low feed conversion ratio [FCR]) according to the FCR. Based on 16S...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiaobin Yang, Jiangbo Cheng, Dan Xu, Chong Li, Deyin Zhang, Yukun Zhang, Kai Huang, Xiaolong Li, Yuan Zhao, Liming Zhao, Quanzhong Xu, Zongwu Ma, Huibin Tian, Xiuxiu Weng, Jie Peng, Xiaoxue Zhang, Weimin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-06-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01423-24
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849735118111899648
author Xiaobin Yang
Jiangbo Cheng
Dan Xu
Chong Li
Deyin Zhang
Yukun Zhang
Kai Huang
Xiaolong Li
Yuan Zhao
Liming Zhao
Quanzhong Xu
Zongwu Ma
Huibin Tian
Xiuxiu Weng
Jie Peng
Xiaoxue Zhang
Weimin Wang
author_facet Xiaobin Yang
Jiangbo Cheng
Dan Xu
Chong Li
Deyin Zhang
Yukun Zhang
Kai Huang
Xiaolong Li
Yuan Zhao
Liming Zhao
Quanzhong Xu
Zongwu Ma
Huibin Tian
Xiuxiu Weng
Jie Peng
Xiaoxue Zhang
Weimin Wang
author_sort Xiaobin Yang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Increasing strain on feed resources has led to a gradual increase in feed input costs, making it necessary to improve feed efficiency in livestock and poultry. In this study, Hu sheep were divided into two groups (high and low feed conversion ratio [FCR]) according to the FCR. Based on 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing technology to compare rumen and small intestine microbial composition, the differences and similarities of production performance, expression level of intestinal nutrient-specific carrier, digestive enzyme activity, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content, muscle conventional nutrient content, and blood biochemical indexes of Hu sheep in high- and low-FCR groups were investigated, and correlation analysis was conducted. The results showed that Hu sheep in the low-FCR group had higher feed efficiency, average daily gain, and less fat deposition (P < 0.05). The difference in rumen microbial composition between the high- and low-FCR groups was significant (P < 0.05). Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that FCR was significantly associated with production performance such as body weight, fat deposition, and dressing percentage (P < 0.05). The levels of digestive enzyme activity and nutrient transporter carrier expression in the small intestine were higher in the low-FCR group than in the high-FCR group. Therefore, FCR can be one of the important targets of concern in Hu sheep production. Combining FCR and regulating the gastrointestinal environment of Hu sheep by nutritional means can greatly improve the production performance and economic benefit of Hu sheep.IMPORTANCEFeed costs account for a large portion of housed sheep. The purpose of comparing the performance and intestinal microbial composition of different FCR Hu sheep is to regulate the gastrointestinal microecology in production practice. This helps livestock producers choose low-FCR Hu sheep to maximize production costs, improve efficiency, and achieve the purpose of low-carbon production.
format Article
id doaj-art-bbb2a7cd04bf457bac5a25ce6b297b08
institution DOAJ
issn 2165-0497
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher American Society for Microbiology
record_format Article
series Microbiology Spectrum
spelling doaj-art-bbb2a7cd04bf457bac5a25ce6b297b082025-08-20T03:07:38ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-06-0113610.1128/spectrum.01423-24Differences in production performance, fore-digestive tract microbiota, and expression levels of nutrient transporters of Hu sheep with different feed conversion ratioXiaobin Yang0Jiangbo Cheng1Dan Xu2Chong Li3Deyin Zhang4Yukun Zhang5Kai Huang6Xiaolong Li7Yuan Zhao8Liming Zhao9Quanzhong Xu10Zongwu Ma11Huibin Tian12Xiuxiu Weng13Jie Peng14Xiaoxue Zhang15Weimin Wang161State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China1State Key Laboratory of Herbage lmprovement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, Collegeof Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaABSTRACT Increasing strain on feed resources has led to a gradual increase in feed input costs, making it necessary to improve feed efficiency in livestock and poultry. In this study, Hu sheep were divided into two groups (high and low feed conversion ratio [FCR]) according to the FCR. Based on 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing technology to compare rumen and small intestine microbial composition, the differences and similarities of production performance, expression level of intestinal nutrient-specific carrier, digestive enzyme activity, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content, muscle conventional nutrient content, and blood biochemical indexes of Hu sheep in high- and low-FCR groups were investigated, and correlation analysis was conducted. The results showed that Hu sheep in the low-FCR group had higher feed efficiency, average daily gain, and less fat deposition (P < 0.05). The difference in rumen microbial composition between the high- and low-FCR groups was significant (P < 0.05). Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that FCR was significantly associated with production performance such as body weight, fat deposition, and dressing percentage (P < 0.05). The levels of digestive enzyme activity and nutrient transporter carrier expression in the small intestine were higher in the low-FCR group than in the high-FCR group. Therefore, FCR can be one of the important targets of concern in Hu sheep production. Combining FCR and regulating the gastrointestinal environment of Hu sheep by nutritional means can greatly improve the production performance and economic benefit of Hu sheep.IMPORTANCEFeed costs account for a large portion of housed sheep. The purpose of comparing the performance and intestinal microbial composition of different FCR Hu sheep is to regulate the gastrointestinal microecology in production practice. This helps livestock producers choose low-FCR Hu sheep to maximize production costs, improve efficiency, and achieve the purpose of low-carbon production.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01423-24feed conversion ratiofore-digestive tractHu sheepmicroorganismproduction performance
spellingShingle Xiaobin Yang
Jiangbo Cheng
Dan Xu
Chong Li
Deyin Zhang
Yukun Zhang
Kai Huang
Xiaolong Li
Yuan Zhao
Liming Zhao
Quanzhong Xu
Zongwu Ma
Huibin Tian
Xiuxiu Weng
Jie Peng
Xiaoxue Zhang
Weimin Wang
Differences in production performance, fore-digestive tract microbiota, and expression levels of nutrient transporters of Hu sheep with different feed conversion ratio
Microbiology Spectrum
feed conversion ratio
fore-digestive tract
Hu sheep
microorganism
production performance
title Differences in production performance, fore-digestive tract microbiota, and expression levels of nutrient transporters of Hu sheep with different feed conversion ratio
title_full Differences in production performance, fore-digestive tract microbiota, and expression levels of nutrient transporters of Hu sheep with different feed conversion ratio
title_fullStr Differences in production performance, fore-digestive tract microbiota, and expression levels of nutrient transporters of Hu sheep with different feed conversion ratio
title_full_unstemmed Differences in production performance, fore-digestive tract microbiota, and expression levels of nutrient transporters of Hu sheep with different feed conversion ratio
title_short Differences in production performance, fore-digestive tract microbiota, and expression levels of nutrient transporters of Hu sheep with different feed conversion ratio
title_sort differences in production performance fore digestive tract microbiota and expression levels of nutrient transporters of hu sheep with different feed conversion ratio
topic feed conversion ratio
fore-digestive tract
Hu sheep
microorganism
production performance
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01423-24
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaobinyang differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT jiangbocheng differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT danxu differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT chongli differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT deyinzhang differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT yukunzhang differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT kaihuang differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT xiaolongli differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT yuanzhao differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT limingzhao differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT quanzhongxu differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT zongwuma differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT huibintian differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT xiuxiuweng differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT jiepeng differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT xiaoxuezhang differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio
AT weiminwang differencesinproductionperformanceforedigestivetractmicrobiotaandexpressionlevelsofnutrienttransportersofhusheepwithdifferentfeedconversionratio