rumen fluid seqquencing

To better expand the alfalfa supply market, the study compared the effects of American alfalfa hay (AAH) and Spanish alfalfa hay (SAH) on lactation performance and rumen microflora of cows. Three hundred and sixty healthy midlactation Holstein cows with similar body weight, milk yield and parity were randomly divided into 2 treatments with 4 pens of 45 per treatment fed diets based on AAH or SAH. The experimental period lasted for 70 days during which dry matter intake and milk yield was recorded daily for all cows. Twelve cows were selected from each group for the collection of milk every 2 weeks, blood and rumen fluid on the final day of the trail and metabolic experiment at last 4 days of the trail. According to the findings, there was no discernible difference between the two groups in production performance, nutrient apparent digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters. Alpha diversity did not significantly change between the two groups, whereas beta diversity showed a significant difference in the rumen microbial composition. Prevotella had a significantly higher relative abundance in SAH cows compared to those in AAH-cows, while Ruminococcus and the NK4A214 group had a significantly lower relative abundance. In conclusion, the feeding effects of SAH was similar to that of AAH. These findings provided reference for the application of alfalfa hay from different sources and the improvement of economic benefit of dairy farm.