{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T00:09:11Z","timestamp":1787530151016,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,14]],"date-time":"2024-02-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1707868800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Fecal scores are crucial for assessing the digestive and gastrointestinal status of animals. The Bristol fecal scoring system is a commonly used method for the subjective evaluation of host feces, there is limited research on fecal scoring standards for fattening Hu sheep. In this study, Hu sheep were collected for rumen, rectum, and colon contents for 16S rDNA sequencing. 514 Hu sheep feces were scored based on the Bristol fecal scoring system, and production performance at each stage was measured. Finally, we developed the scoring standard of the manure of Hu sheep in the fattening period (a total of five grades). The result shows that moisture content significantly increased with higher grades (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0.05). We analyzed the relationship between fecal scores and production traits, blood indices, muscle nutrients, and digestive tract microorganisms. The growth traits (body weight, body height, body length, average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) during 80\u2013180 days), body composition traits of the F3 group, and the carcass traits were found to be significantly higher (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0.05) than those of the F1 and F2 groups. There was no significant difference in gastrointestinal microflora diversity among all groups (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;gt; 0.05). Significant differences were observed in Aspartate aminotransferase, Glucose, Total bilirubin, and Red Blood Cell Count between groups (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0.05). The mutton moisture content in group F4 was significantly higher than in the other groups, and the protein content was also the lowest (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0.05). The results of the correlation analysis demonstrated that Actinobacteria, <jats:italic>Peptostreptococcaceae<\/jats:italic>, Acidaminococcales, Gammaproteobacteria, and Proteobacteria were the significant bacteria affecting fecal scores. In addition, <jats:italic>Muribaculaceae<\/jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Oscillospiraceae<\/jats:italic> were identified as the noteworthy flora affecting growth performance and immunity. This study highlights the differences in production traits and blood indicators between fecal assessment groups and the complex relationship between intestinal microbiota and fecal characteristics in Hu sheep, suggesting potential impacts on animal performance and health, which suggest strategies for improved management.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2024.1348873","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,14]],"date-time":"2024-02-14T04:20:51Z","timestamp":1707884451000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Relationship between sheep feces scores and gastrointestinal microorganisms and their effects on growth traits and blood indicators"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Xiaobin","family":"Yang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jianghui","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiangbo","family":"Cheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Deyin","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kai","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yukun","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaolong","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuan","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liming","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dan","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zongwu","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jia","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhiqiang","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chong","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Huibin","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiuxiu","family":"Weng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Weimin","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaoxue","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111315","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopha.2021.111315","article-title":"Adipose tissue and insulin resistance in obese","volume":"137","author":"Ahmed","year":"2021","journal-title":"Biomed. Pharmacother."},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.1016\/S0966-842X(99)01566-8","article-title":"Why is Deinococcus radiodurans so resistant to ionizing radiation?","volume":"7","author":"Battista","year":"1999","journal-title":"Trends Microbiol."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1101\/gr.126516.111","article-title":"Fusobacterium nucleatum infection is prevalent in human colorectal carcinoma","volume":"22","author":"Castellarin","year":"2012","journal-title":"Genome Res."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvfa.2017.10.006","article-title":"Enteric immunity: happy gut, healthy animal","volume":"34","author":"Chase","year":"2018","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. North Am. Food Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1186\/s40168-021-01110-0","article-title":"Prevotella copri increases fat accumulation in pigs fed with formula diets","volume":"9","author":"Chen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Microbiome"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1261","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2019.01261","article-title":"Mucosa-associated microbiota in gastric Cancer tissues compared with non-cancer tissues","volume":"10","author":"Chen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1002\/wsbm.19","article-title":"Gastrointestinal system","volume":"2","author":"Cheng","year":"2010","journal-title":"Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Syst. Biol. Med."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2531","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2015-10-676718","article-title":"Blood: a brief survey of its chemical components and of their natural functions and clinical uses","volume":"126","author":"Cohn","year":"2015","journal-title":"Blood"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"652031","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2021.652031","article-title":"Correlation of breed, growth performance, and rumen microbiota in two rustic cattle breeds reared under different conditions","volume":"12","author":"Daghio","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1020","DOI":"10.1136\/gutjnl-2021-326789","article-title":"Gut microbiome and health: mechanistic insights","volume":"71","author":"de Vos","year":"2022","journal-title":"Gut"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"326","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13030326","article-title":"Characterization of the fecal and mucosa-associated microbiota in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy","volume":"13","author":"D\u00edaz-Rega\u00f1\u00f3n","year":"2023","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/j.talanta.2009.06.025","article-title":"Spectral library validation to identify ingredients of compound feedingstuffs by near infrared reflectance microscopy","volume":"80","author":"Fern\u00e1ndez-Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez","year":"2009","journal-title":"Talanta"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3363","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2017-14113","article-title":"Short communication: calf cleanliness does not predict diarrhea upon arrival at a veal calf facility","volume":"101","author":"Graham","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anaerobe.2017.12.013","article-title":"Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteremia: A case report and literature review","volume":"49","author":"Hagiya","year":"2018","journal-title":"Anaerobe"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0173482","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0173482","article-title":"Genome-wide association analysis and functional annotation of positional candidate genes for feed conversion efficiency and growth rate in pigs","volume":"12","author":"Horodyska","year":"2017","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2843","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biocel.2013.09.014","article-title":"The molecular basis for the immunomodulatory activities of unconjugated bilirubin","volume":"45","author":"Jangi","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1038\/s41396-021-01057-y","article-title":"Large-scale protein level comparison of Deltaproteobacteria reveals cohesive metabolic groups","volume":"16","author":"Langwig","year":"2022","journal-title":"ISME J."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1186\/s12882-022-02797-5","article-title":"Association of gut microbiota with idiopathic membranous nephropathy","volume":"23","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Nephrol."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anifeedsci.2016.08.014","article-title":"A preliminary evaluation of the use of mid infrared spectroscopy to develop calibration equations for determining faecal composition, intake and digestibility in sheep","volume":"221","author":"Lyons","year":"2016","journal-title":"Anim. Feed Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"874536","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2022.874536","article-title":"Characteristics of bacterial microbiota in different intestinal segments of Aohan fine-wool sheep","volume":"13","author":"Ma","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"770","DOI":"10.1111\/trf.16849","article-title":"Antibodies against biotin-labeled red blood cells can shorten posttransfusion survival","volume":"62","author":"Mock","year":"2022","journal-title":"Transfusion"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1132","DOI":"10.1002\/bjs.1800791106","article-title":"Function of the human colon","volume":"79","author":"Moran","year":"1992","journal-title":"Br. J. Surg."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3325","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ygeno.2021.07.025","article-title":"Integration of selection signatures and multi-trait GWAS reveals polygenic genetic architecture of carcass traits in beef cattle","volume":"113","author":"Niu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Genomics"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1668","DOI":"10.14309\/ajg.0000000000001942","article-title":"Modest conformity between self-reporting of Bristol stool form and fecal consistency measured by stool water content in irritable bowel syndrome and a FODMAP and gluten trial","volume":"117","author":"Nordin","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am. J. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.5604\/17322693.1197373","article-title":"Aminotransferaza asparaginianowa \u2013 kluczowy enzym w metabolizmie og\u00f3lnoustrojowym cz\u0142owieka [Aspartate aminotransferase--key enzyme in the human systemic metabolism]","volume":"70","author":"Otto-\u015alusarczyk","year":"2016","journal-title":"Postepy Hig. Med. Dosw."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100043","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crmicr.2021.100043","article-title":"The gene expression and bioinformatic analysis of choline trimethylamine-lyase (CutC) and its activating enzyme (CutD) for gut microbes and comparison with their TMA production levels","volume":"2","author":"Ramireddy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr. Res. Microb. Sci."},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10709","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2020-18907","article-title":"Technical note: is fecal consistency scoring an accurate measure of fecal dry matter in dairy calves?","volume":"103","author":"Renaud","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"795","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2019.07.008","article-title":"Tumor microbiome diversity and composition influence pancreatic Cancer outcomes","volume":"178","author":"Riquelme","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3164","DOI":"10.1111\/1462-2920.15538","article-title":"Desulfovibrio diazotrophicus sp. nov., a sulfate-reducing bacterium from the human gut capable of nitrogen fixation","volume":"23","author":"Sayavedra","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"394","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chom.2020.12.012","article-title":"Role of dietary fiber in the recovery of the human gut microbiome and its metabolome","volume":"29","author":"Tanes","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cell Host Microbe"},{"key":"ref31","first-page":"380","article-title":"Heritability estimates for carcass traits of cattle: a review","volume":"3","author":"Utrera","year":"2004","journal-title":"Genet. Mol. Res."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8347","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2015-10738","article-title":"Association of calf growth traits with production characteristics in dairy cattle","volume":"99","author":"Van De Stroet","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"286","DOI":"10.1111\/jpn.13493","article-title":"Evaluation of the combined effects of different dose levels of zinc oxide with probiotics complex supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal microbiota, noxious gas emissions and faecal score of weaning pigs","volume":"105","author":"Wang","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105781","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phrs.2021.105781","article-title":"Protective effect of isosteviol sodium against LPS-induced multiple organ injury by regulating of glycerophospholipid metabolism and reducing macrophage-driven inflammation","volume":"172","author":"Wang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pharmacol. Res."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"146654","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gene.2022.146654","article-title":"Molecular characterization and expression of RPS23 and HPSE and their association with hematologic parameters in sheep","volume":"837","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Gene"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2022\/4023006","article-title":"Jiedu-Yizhi formula alleviates Neuroinflammation in AD rats by modulating the gut microbiota","volume":"2022","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2305","DOI":"10.1128\/JB.01480-09","article-title":"Phylogeny of gammaproteobacteria","volume":"192","author":"Williams","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Bacteriol."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2290","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2020-18825","article-title":"Characterization of fecal branched-chain fatty acid profiles and their associations with fecal microbiota in diarrheic and healthy dairy calves","volume":"104","author":"Xin","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e923","DOI":"10.1002\/mbo3.923","article-title":"Longitudinal development of the gut microbiota in healthy and diarrheic piglets induced by age-related dietary changes","volume":"8","author":"Yang","year":"2019","journal-title":"MicrobiologyOpen"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e00110-19","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.00110-19","article-title":"Genomic characterization of candidate division LCP-89 reveals an atypical Cell Wall structure, microcompartment production, and dual respiratory and fermentative capacities","volume":"85","author":"Youssef","year":"2019","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3584","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11123584","article-title":"Exploring the ruminal microbial community associated with fat deposition in lambs","volume":"11","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2022\/1098892","article-title":"Exploring the possible link between the gut microbiome and fat deposition in pigs","volume":"2022","author":"Zhao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Oxidative Med. Cell. Longev."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2024.1348873\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,14]],"date-time":"2024-02-14T04:20:54Z","timestamp":1707884454000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2024.1348873\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,14]]},"references-count":42,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmicb.2024.1348873"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2024.1348873","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-302X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-302X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,14]]},"article-number":"1348873"}}