Rumen microbial profiles associated with variation in feed efficiency of lambs

The rumen microbiome is known to play a large role in digestion in ruminant livestock, and therefore may influence feed efficiency. The rumen microbiome is known to differ between lambs divergent for feed efficiency. It is of interest whether feed efficiency status can be predicted using rumen microbial profiles in sheep. The objectives of this study were 1) to determine the effect of feed efficiency status on rumen microbial profiles and volatile fatty acid concentrations in growing ewe lambs and 2) to determine if feed efficiency status of a set of Targhee ewes could be predicted using a profile of rumen microbiota previously determined to be associated with divergence for feed efficiency status in growing ewes. It was determined that differences in rumen microbiome composition were associated with feed efficiency status and that pre-determined rumen microbiome profiles could be used to successfully predict feed efficiency in growing Targhee ewes.