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Simple Summary: Pigs play a crucial role in human sustenance, with their intestinal microbiota composition significantly influencing their nutrition and metabolism. Recent research has focused on understanding these differences among various swine breeds to attain improved food quality and safety. We sought the microbial evidence of differential performances of Tibetan pigs. In this study, six Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) pigs and six Tibetan pigs at 200 days of age were examined. Analysis revealed distinct microbial compositions in DLY pigs, with higher levels of Alloprevotella and Prevotellaceae_UCG-003. This resulted in variations in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations, contributing to enhanced growth performance. Tibetan pigs exhibited increased abundance of NK4A214_group, leading to higher L-cysteine levels and the subsequent elevation of taurine in the colon and plasma. Taurine influences microbiota dynamics and metabolism, particularly in bile acid metabolism, showcasing Tibetan pigs' proficiency in this area. Overall, DLY pigs excel in SCFA metabolism, while Tibetan pigs exhibit competence in bile acid metabolism. Leveraging these breed-specific differences could improve production performance in these pig breeds. Pigs stand as a vital cornerstone in the realm of human sustenance, and the intricate composition of their intestinal microbiota wields a commanding influence over their nutritional and metabolic pathways. We employed multi-omic evaluations to identify microbial evidence associated with differential growth performance and metabolites, thereby offering theoretical support for the implementation of efficient farming practices for Tibetan pigs and establishing a robust foundation for enhancing pig growth and health. In this work, six Duroc × landrace × yorkshi (DLY) pigs and six Tibetan pigs were used for the experiment. Following humane euthanasia, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken to detect the presence of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), microbial populations, and metabolites within the colonic environment. Additionally, metabolites present within the plasma were also assessed. The outcomes of our analysis unveiled the key variables affecting the microbe changes causing the observed differences in production performance between these two distinct pig breeds. Specifically, noteworthy discrepancies were observed in the microbial compositions of DLY pigs, characterized by markedly higher levels of Alloprevotella and Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 (p < 0.05). These disparities, in turn, resulted in significant variations in the concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and the cumulative SCFAs (p < 0.05). Consequently, the DLY pigs exhibited enhanced growth performance and overall well-being, which could be ascribed to the distinct metabolite profiles they harbored. Conversely, Tibetan pigs exhibited a significantly elevated relative abundance of the NK4A214_group, which consequently led to a pronounced increase in the concentration of L-cysteine. This elevation in L-cysteine content had cascading effects, further manifesting higher levels of taurine within the colon and plasma. It is noteworthy that taurine has the potential to exert multifaceted impacts encompassing microbiota dynamics, protein and lipid metabolism, as well as bile acid metabolism, all of which collectively benefit the pigs. In light of this, Tibetan pigs showcased enhanced capabilities in bile acid metabolism. In summation, our findings suggest that DLY pigs excel in their proficiency in short-chain fatty acid metabolism, whereas Tibetan pigs exhibit a more pronounced competence in the realm of bile acid metabolism. These insights underscore the potential for future studies to leverage these breed-specific differences, thereby contributing to the amelioration of production performance within these two distinct pig breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The nutrient availability of roughages could affect the dietary utilization efficiency of ruminants even in isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. Here, we analyzed the bacterial composition and their metabolic pathways in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of Hu sheep fed with wheat straw (WS) instead of alfalfa (AL) in isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets, trying to explore the reasons from the perspective of GITs bacterial network structure changes. Results: We employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing in combination with the Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman correlation analysis, and other statistical methods to describe the microbiota composition in the GITs of Hu sheep. The results showed after the roughage was replaced from AL to WS, the most positive response occurred in the rumen microbiota, resulting in a more obvious microbiological and functional redundancy phenomenon. Whereas extended biogeographic studies of the GITs bacterial community found opposite results for the hindgut microbiota and metabolism networks compared to the forestomach. The abundance of fiber-degrading bacteria such as Prevotella, Oscillospiraceae NK4A214 group, and Treponema was significantly increased in GITs, but low-efficiency crude fiber degradation inhibited energy use efficiency, the pentose phosphate pathway, gluconeogenesis, and volatile acid synthesis. In addition, dietary shifting from AL to WS decreased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as the Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group and Alistipes, thereby enhancing the underlying inflammatory response. Conclusions: These findings suggest that feeding untreated WS affected the structure and function of the bacterial network in the GITs due to limited total digestible nutrients, and in particular increases the complexity of the rumen bacterial network, and limit the abundance of bacteria involved in the crude fiber degradation in the hindgut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbes are closely related to physical health. The intestinal microbial population in fish is a complicated ecological environment that plays an important role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients and fish health. As a unique species in Tibet, Schizothorax o'connori has a protective value for the ecological balance of plateau rivers. However, with the reproduction of invasive fish species, the population of S. o'connori has declined significantly. Therefore, we used 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing techniques to analyze the composition and diversity of intestinal microbiota in S. o'connori at different growth stages, which can contribute to sustainable reproduction and survival of S. o'connori. The results showed that the diversity of intestinal microflora increased with the growth of S. o'connori. A total of 24 phyla, including the four predominant phyla Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, were detected, and 292 genera, including the three predominant genera Pseudomonas, Moraxellaceae, and Geobacillus, were identified. These results confirm that the ability to decompose fibers and utilize carbohydrates in feeds was enhanced. Intestinal health and immunization status were improved with the growth of S. o'connori. Different growth stages significantly affected the microbial community structure of the intestinal tract of S. o'connori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]