rumen microbiome structure in the adaption to the HC diet

Understanding the strategies applied by the ruminal microbiome to maintain rumen pH and lactate concentration in the gradual adaption to the HC diet has significant importance in the development of economical measures to prevent ruminal acidosis (RA) in the feedlots. However, the microbial strategies concerning the shifts of metabolism capacities, especially the lactate metabolism capacity, are still unclear. Our study suggested that, by maintaining normal lactate concentration, host immune tolerance and intracellular redox balance, the synergic upregulation of L-lactate fermentation and anaerobic respiration in the LUM population contributed to the prevention of RA in the animals fed with the HC diet.