y2020m01b6313
20200129094500
assa
nadine@assaf.org.za
assa
South African Journal of Science
S. Afr. J. Sci
1996-7489
01292020
116
1/2
Spatio-seasonal variations in the faecal bacterial community of Zulu sheep grazing in communally managed rangeland
Thembinkosi G.
Xulu
Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2585-135X
Obinna T.
Ezeokoli
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology Research Group, Agricultural Research Council – Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, Pretoria, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1819-8804
Arvind K.
Gupta
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology Research Group, Agricultural Research Council – Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, Pretoria, South Africa
Charlotte
Mienie
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8796-3990
Cornelius C.
Bezuidenhout
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6047-4991
Nokuthula W.
Kunene
Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa
The adaptation of Zulu (Nguni) sheep (Ovis aries) to environmental stress and survival under extensive conditions makes them uniquely important to rural Nguni farmers of South Africa. Here, the faecal bacterial community of five Zulu sheep populations managed under extensive conditions across summer and winter seasons was investigated in order to understand the influence of prevailing seasonal factors. Bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs)/species (at 97% 16S rRNA gene similarity) in Zulu sheep faeces were more diverse in winter than in summer at most (80%) sites and varied between seasons at specific sites. Firmicutes was the most abundant phyla in both summer and winter seasons, while the relative abundance of Actinobacteria reduced in 80% of sites from summer to winter. The genera (or family) such as Akkermansia, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, Intestinibacter, R-7 group (family Christensenellaceae), Ruminococcus, Ruminoclostridium, Treponema and UCG-005 (family Ruminococcaceae) were relatively more abundant and belonged to a ‘core microbiome’ of Zulu sheep faeces. Between seasons, Acinetobacter, Jeotgalicoccus, Methanobrevibacter, Phascolarctobacterium and Planomicrobium were differentially abundant. Overall, results suggest increased richness and diversity of bacteria from summer to winter which may be related to spatio-seasonal variations in grazing management, forage types and availability. This observation serves as baseline evidence, justifying further controlled studies investigating, amongst other factors, effects of forage type and availability across seasons on ruminal microbiota of Zulu sheep grazing in communally managed rangelands.
01292020
1
10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark
sajs.co.za
false
2019-06-08
2019-10-29
2020-01-29
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
10.17159/sajs.2020/6313
20200129094500
https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6313
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6313/9691
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6313/9691
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6313/9691
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6313/9691
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6313/9691
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6313/9691
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6313/9691