Effect of high-concentrate diets on microbial composition, function, and the VFAs formation process in the rumen of dairy cows

Abstract Although numerous studies have revealed the effects of high-concentration (HC) diets on rumen microbial composition and metabolism, information regarding changes in the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) formation process under HC feeding is still limited. In the present study, we used a metagenomics approach to compare the effects of low-concentrate (LC) diets and high-concentrate (HC) diets on alterations to the rumen microbiota and their functions, particularly the functional genes involved in the metabolic routes of VFAs. The results showed that the HC diets increased (P