Effects of Dietary Change on Viral-Bacterial Interactions in the Rumen of Cattle

Authors

Christopher L. Anderson, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Melissa L. Jolly, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Adam L. Shreck Shreck, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Samodha C. Fernando, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

2014 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, UNL Extension MP99, pp. 99-100.

Comments

Copyright © 2014 University of Nebraska.

Abstract

This ongoing study investigates the impact of diet and bacteriophage activity on the structuring of rumen microbial community composition and diversity. Fistulated cattle were acclimated to a given diet for 21 days before samples were collected and subsequently enriched for viral particles with tangential flow filtration. Taxonomic identification, abundance, and functional attributes were assigned to both bacterial and viral communities. Principle coordinate analysis of the bacterial communities revealed significant clustering based on diet. While diet drives the structuring of rumen bacterial communities, bacteriophages may maintain high, constant bacterial diversity.