Depicting Fecal Microbiota Characteristic in Yak, Cattle, Yak-Cattle Hybrid and Tibetan Sheep in Different Eco-Regions of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Cattle, yak, and sheep reside as the main ruminants distributed throughout most regions of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area (QTPA) in China. However, there is a lack of large-scale research in the QTPA on their fecal microbiota, which can regulate and reflect host health as an internalized "microbial organ." Our study depicted the fecal microbiota community composition and diversity of yak, cattle, yak-cattle hybrids, and Tibetan sheep from 4 eco-regions of the QTPA. Additionally, our results demonstrated here that the ruminant samples could be clustered into 2 enterotypes and that diet outweighed other factors in shaping fecal microbiota in the QTPA. This study provided a basis for understanding the microbiota characteristic of ruminants and its possible applications for livestock production in the QTPA.