367 - Characterization of the Seminal Microbiota in Beef Bulls Subjected to Different Rate of Gains Using 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and Culturomics

Monday, June 27, 2022

3:50 PM – 4:05 PM CT

Location: Oklahoma City Convention Center, 207 A/B

Presenting Author(s)

EW

Emily M. Webb

North Dakota State University
West Fargo, ND

Author(s)

DH

Devin Holman

Research Scientist
Agriculture Agri-Food Canada, Lacomb Research and Development Center
Lacombe, AB
KS

Kaycie Schmidt

Research Specialist
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND
Matthew S. Crouse, n/a

Research Physiologist
USDA ARS
Clay Center, NE
CD

Carl R. Dahlen, PhD

Associate Professor
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
RC

Robert A. Cushman, n/a

Research Physiologist
USDA MARC
Clay Center, NE
Alex P. Snider, PhD

Research Physiologist (Animals)
USDA ARS
Clay Center, NE
Kacie L. McCarthy

Assistant Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Samat Amat, n/a

Assistant Professor
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND

Abstract: Increasing evidence supports the existence of a microbial community in bovine semen, and that this seminal microbiota may influence not only the male reproductive health, but also female and offspring health through microbial transfer. In this study, we evaluated seminal microbiota in beef bulls (BW= 503±7.2 kg) fed a common diet to achieve moderate (1.13 kg/d) or high (1.80 kg/d) rates of weight gain. Semen samples were collected at day 0 and day 112 of dietary intervention (n = 19 per group), and post-breeding (n = 6) using electroejaculation and the microbiota assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, quantification of total bacteria by qPCR, and viable bacteria culturing. A complex and dynamic microbiota was detected in the semen, and the community structure changed significantly over the course of the study (R 2 = 0.126, P < 0.001) but remained unaffected by the dietary treatment (P > 0.05). Microbial richness (number of ASVs) increased from d0 (253 ± 12) to d112 (293 ± 14) while diversity (Shannon index) was reduced (P < 0.05). Twenty-seven bacterial phyla were identified across all samples, with Fusobacteriota (36.3%), Bacteroidetes (30.4%), Firmicutes (17.1%) and Actinobacteriota (14.9%) being the most predominant phyla. Total bacterial load declined over time (P < 0.05). Diet had no effect on alpha diversity metrics, microbial composition, or total bacterial concentration (P > 0.05). A total of 364 bacterial isolates were recovered under aerobic (n = 220) and anaerobic (n = 144) culturing conditions. These isolates represented 48 different genera within the Firmicutes (60%), Proteobacteria (25%), Actinobacteria (9%), Bacteroidetes (4%) and Fusobacteriota (2%) phyla. Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Enterococcus and Arthrobacter were the predominant genera. Overall, our results suggest that bovine semen harbors a rich and complex microbiota which changes over time but appears to be resilient to differential gains achieved via common diet.