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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #392865
Research Project: Improve Nutrient Management and Efficiency of Beef Cattle and Swine

Location: Nutrition, Growth and Physiology

Title: Characterization of the seminal microbiota in beef bulls subjected to different rate of gains using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and culturomics

Author
item WEBB, EMILY - North Dakota State University
item HOLMAN, DEVIN - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item SCHMIDT, KAYCIE - North Dakota State University
item Crouse, Matthew
item DAHLEN, CARL - North Dakota State University
item Cushman, Robert - Bob
item Snider, Alexandria - Alex
item MCCARTHY, KACIE - University Of Nebraska
item AMAT, SAMAT - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2022
Publication Date: 9/21/2022
Citation: Webb, E.M., Holman, D., Schmidt, K., Crouse, M.S., Dahlen, C.R., Cushman, R.A., Snider, A.P., McCarthy, K.L., Amat, S. 2022. Characterization of the seminal microbiota in beef bulls subjected to different rate of gains using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and culturomics [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 100(Supplement 3):180. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac247.331.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac247.331

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Increasing evidence supports the existence of a microbial community in bovine semen, and that this seminal microbiota may influence not only the male reproductive health, but also female and offspring health through microbial transfer. In this study, we evaluated seminal microbiota in beef bulls (BW= 503±7.2 kg) fed a common diet to achieve moderate (1.13 kg/d) or high (1.80 kg/d) rates of weight gain. Semen samples were collected at day 0 and day 112 of dietary inter¬vention (n = 19 per group), and post-breeding (n = 6) using electroejaculation and the microbiota assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, quantification of total bacteria by qPCR, and viable bacteria culturing. A complex and dynamic microbiota was detected in the semen, and the community structure changed significantly over the course of the study (R 2 = 0.126, P < 0.001) but remained unaffected by the dietary treatment (P > 0.05). Microbial richness (number of ASVs) increased from d0 (253 ± 12) to d112 (293 ± 14) while diversity (Shannon index) was reduced (P < 0.05). Twenty-seven bacterial phyla were identified across all samples, with Fusobacteriota (36.3%), Bacteroidetes (30.4%), Firmicutes (17.1%) and Actinobacteriota (14.9%) being the most predominant phyla. Total bacterial load declined over time (P < 0.05). Diet had no effect on alpha diversity metrics, microbial composition, or total bacterial concentration (P > 0.05). A total of 364 bacterial isolates were recovered under aerobic (n = 220) and anaerobic (n = 144) culturing conditions. These isolates represented 48 different genera within the Firmicutes (60%), Proteobacteria (25%), Actinobacteria (9%), Bacteroidetes (4%) and Fusobacteriota (2%) phyla. Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Enterococcus and Arthrobacter were the predominant genera. Overall, our results suggest that bovine semen harbors a rich and complex microbiota which changes over time but appears to be resilient to differential gains achieved via common diet.