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Phytosterols are natural steroids in plants, possessing bioactivities that could modify gut microbes. This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding phytosterols on the community structures and metabolic functions of the rumen microbiota in perinatal cows. Perinatal cows were supplied with 0 mg (control) or 200 mg (treatment) phytosterols per day. Multiomic analyses were used to analyze the community structures and metabolic functions of rumen microbiota. Results showed that dietary phytosterols increased the copy number of total ruminal bacteria, the concentration of microbial crude protein, and the molar percentage of propionate in the rumen of perinatal cows but had no effects on the alpha diversity of ruminal bacteria. However, they enriched three genera (i.e., Fibrobacter ) and seven species (i.e., Fibrobacter succinogenes) within active ruminal bacteria. Metatranscriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that dietary phytosterols enhanced the pathway of glycolysis and the family of glycoside hydrolase 13 but depressed the citrate cycle and pyruvate metabolism and several pathways of amino acid biosynthesis. In conclusion, dietary addition of phytosterols improved the growth of ruminal bacteria and changed rumen fermentation by modifying the rumen microbiome and the energy metabolism pathways, which would be beneficial for the energy utilization of perinatal cows. IMPORTANCE Perinatal cows suffer serious physiological stress and energy deficiency. Phytosterols have bioactive functions for gut microbes. However, little knowledge is available on their effects on rumen microbiota and rumen fermentation. Results of the present experiment revealed that dietary supplementation of phytosterols could improve the growth of ruminal bacteria and changed the rumen fermentation to provide more glycogenetic precursors for the perinatal cows by modifying the ruminal bacteria community and altering the energy metabolism pathways of the rumen microbiota. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation of phytosterols would be beneficial for perinatal cows suffering from a negative energy balance.

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]