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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393754
Research Project: Reduction of Foodborne Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in Poultry Production Environments

Location: Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit

Title: The impact of pre-slaughter fasting on the ruminal microbial population of commercial angus steers

Author
item WELCH, CHRISTINA - University Of Georgia
item LOURENCO, JEFERSON - University Of Georgia
item SEIDEL, DARREN - University Of Georgia
item KRAUSE, TAYLOR - University Of Georgia
item Rothrock, Michael
item PRINGLE, T. - University Of Georgia
item CALLAWAY, TODD - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Microorganisms
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2021
Publication Date: 12/19/2021
Citation: Welch, C.W., Lourenco, J.M., Seidel, D.S., Krause, T.R., Rothrock Jr, M.J., Pringle, T., Callaway, T.R. 2021. The impact of pre-slaughter fasting on the ruminal microbial population of commercial angus steers. Microorganisms. 9(12):2625. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122625.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122625

Interpretive Summary: Diet impacts the composition of the ruminal microbiota; however, prior to slaughter, cattle are fasted, which may change the ruminal microbial ecosystem structure and lead to dysbiosis. The objective of this study was to determine changes occurring in the rumen after pre-slaughter fasting, which can allow harmful pathogens an opportunity to establish in the rumen. Ruminal samples were collected before and after pre-slaughter fasting from seventeen commercial Angus steers. DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to determine the ruminal microbiota, as well as volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Microbial richness (Chao 1 index), evenness, and Shannon diversity index all increased after fasting (p = 0.040). During fasting, the two predominant families Prevotellaceae and Ruminococcaceae decreased (p = 0.029), whereas the remaining minor families increased (p < 0.001). Fasting increased Blautia and Methanosphaera (p = 0.003), while Campylobacter and Treponema tended to increase (p = 0.086). Butyrate concentration tended to decrease (p = 0.068) after fasting. The present findings support that fasting causes ruminal nutrient depletion resulting in dysbiosis, allowing opportunistic pathogens to exploit the void in the ruminal ecological niche

Technical Abstract: Diet impacts the composition of the ruminal microbiota; however, prior to slaughter, cattle are fasted, which may change the ruminal microbial ecosystem structure and lead to dysbiosis. The objective of this study was to determine changes occurring in the rumen after pre-slaughter fasting, which can allow harmful pathogens an opportunity to establish in the rumen. Ruminal samples were collected before and after pre-slaughter fasting from seventeen commercial Angus steers. DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to determine the ruminal microbiota, as well as volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Microbial richness (Chao 1 index), evenness, and Shannon diversity index all increased after fasting (p = 0.040). During fasting, the two predominant families Prevotellaceae and Ruminococcaceae decreased (p = 0.029), whereas the remaining minor families increased (p < 0.001). Fasting increased Blautia and Methanosphaera (p = 0.003), while Campylobacter and Treponema tended to increase (p = 0.086). Butyrate concentration tended to decrease (p = 0.068) after fasting. The present findings support that fasting causes ruminal nutrient depletion resulting in dysbiosis, allowing opportunistic pathogens to exploit the void in the ruminal ecological niche