Metagenomics of rumen microbiota in female cattle growing on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau in different months

In this study, we collected rumen fluid from 9 adult cows naturally grazed with QTP in different grazing months (January, March, May, July, September, and November). In addition, the seasonal dynamics of bacterial and archaeal community structure and diversity in cattle rumen during different grazing months were studied using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Understanding the seasonal dynamics and driving factors of rumen microbiota in cattle under natural grazing conditions will provide necessary knowledge for developing strategies to improve rumen function and host productivity in extreme QTP environments.