Differences in microbiome and virome between cattle and horses in the same farm

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Animal farm health is linked to microbial communities in feces and dust.
• While gut microbiomes are studied, feedlot microbial and viral communities remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the microbiome and virome communities in cattle and horse farm feces and dust.
• To establish baseline data for understanding livestock microbial ecology.

Main Methods:

• Feces and dust samples were collected from cattle and horse farms.
• Illumina sequencing was used to analyze microbiome and virome communities.

Main Results:

• Dust samples showed higher microbial diversity than feces samples.
• Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were dominant phyla across all samples.
• Streptococcus abundance was significantly higher in horse samples, while no foot-and-mouth disease or equine adenovirus was detected.

Conclusions:

• This study provides foundational data on the distinct microbial ecology of cattle and horse farms.
• Understanding these environments is crucial for managing livestock health and farm ecosystems.