Comparative assessment of rumen microbiome for heat stress in three indigenous goat breeds

Rumen microbiome plays a vital role in ruminants to convert low-quality plant feed into high-quality livestock products. Although the rumen microbial community is largely stable throughout the entire lifespan of the animal, it is highly responsive to diet, development stage, genetics and environmental stressors. There is a paucity of information on the impact of heat stress on rumen microbiome. Thus, this study holds a novelty for evaluating the variation in rumen microbial community during heat stress exposure in indigenous Osmanabadi, Malabari and Salem Black goat breeds with an intention to explore the possibility of rumen microbiome related adaptive efficiency in goats. Additionally, this study is the first of its kind for assessing the breed variation in rumen microbial diversity during heat stress exposure in goats.