{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T06:58:37Z","timestamp":1790665117606,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790640000000},"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:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study evaluated the effects of different dietary proportions of alfalfa hay on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, rumen fermentation, and rumen microbiota in beef cattle.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Sixty Simmental crossbred cattle were randomly assigned to diets containing 11.57% (low alfalfa hay group, LAG), 20.83% (medium alfalfa hay group, MAG), or 30.09% (high alfalfa hay group, HAG) alfalfa hay, with four replicates per treatment and five cattle per replicate.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The LAG diet significantly increased final body weight and reduced beef shear force. The LAG diet also resulted in the highest saturated fatty acid content in the longissimus thoracis muscle. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, the LAG group had significantly higher relative abundances of Eubacterium_brachy_group and norank_f_Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group. Muscle n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid content was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, whereas Succiniclasticum abundance was negatively correlated with the PICRUSt2-predicted acarbose and validamycin biosynthesis pathway.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A dietary alfalfa hay proportion of 11.57% improved final body weight and beef tenderness and was associated with distinct changes in rumen microbial composition and predicted microbial functions. These findings provide a scientific basis for using alfalfa hay to produce high-quality beef.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1961267","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T06:07:51Z","timestamp":1790662071000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Improving beef quality through rumen microbial modulation by varying alfalfa hay proportions in the diet"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Boshuai","family":"Liu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yujie","family":"Zheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zimin","family":"Gao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Defeng","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaoyan","family":"Zhu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hao","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhichang","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yalei","family":"Cui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yinghua","family":"Shi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Key Laboratory of Innovation and Utilization of Grassland Resources","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]},{"name":"Henan Herbage Engineering Technology Research Center","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1006\/anbe.2002.3057","article-title":"The effect of food quality and relative abundance on food choice in fallow deer","volume":"64","author":"Alm","year":"2002","journal-title":"Anim. Behav."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1257","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2018-15322","article-title":"Effects of berry seed residues on ruminal fermentation, methane concentration, milk production, and fatty acid proportions in the rumen and milk of dairy cows","volume":"102","author":"Bryszak","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"570","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aam9949","article-title":"Microbiota-activated PPAR-\u03b3 signaling inhibits dysbiotic enterobacteriaceae expansion","volume":"357","author":"Byndloss","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci. (N. Y. N.Y.)"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1176","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10071176","article-title":"Effect of dietary olive cake supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of beef cattle","volume":"10","author":"Chiofalo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Anim.: Open Access J. MDPI."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3536","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2007-0849","article-title":"Prevotella bryantii 25A used as a probiotic in early-lactation dairy cows: effect on ruminal fermentation characteristics, milk production, and milk composition","volume":"91","author":"Chiquette","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Dairy Sci."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2284","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13142284","article-title":"Effect of potato vine and leaf mixed silage compared to whole corn crops on growth performance, apparent digestibility, and serum biochemical characteristics of fattening angus bull","volume":"13","author":"Deng","year":"2023","journal-title":"Anim. Open Access J. MDPI"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"30261","DOI":"10.1074\/jbc.M110.141788","article-title":"Transcriptomic analyses of xylan degradation by prevotella bryantii and insights into energy acquisition by xylanolytic bacteroidetes","volume":"285","author":"Dodd","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Biol. Chem."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"861025","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2022.861025","article-title":"Effects of replacing alfalfa hay with native grass hay in pelleted total mixed ration on physicochemical parameters, fatty acid profile, and rumen microbiota in lamb","volume":"13","author":"Du","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e48289","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0048289","article-title":"Next generation sequencing to define prokaryotic and fungal diversity in the bovine rumen","volume":"7","author":"Fouts","year":"2012","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1031","DOI":"10.1111\/jpn.12317","article-title":"Effects of different forms and origins of oilseeds on dynamics of ruminal biohydrogenation of long-chain fatty acids in vitro","volume":"99","author":"Hoffmann","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e33306","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0033306","article-title":"Composition and similarity of bovine rumen microbiota across individual animals","volume":"7","author":"Jami","year":"2012","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1177\/0884533611436116","article-title":"Effects of gut microbes on nutrient absorption and energy regulation","volume":"27","author":"Krajmalnik-Brown","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nutr. Clin. Pract.: Off. Publ. Am. Soc. Parenter. Enter. Nutr."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"984","DOI":"10.5713\/ajas.18.0212","article-title":"Current situation and future prospects for beef production in China\u2014a review","volume":"31","author":"Li","year":"2018","journal-title":"Asian-Australas. J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1007\/s00284-014-0672-y","article-title":"Pectin induces an in vitro rumen microbial population shift attributed to the pectinolytic treponema group","volume":"70","author":"Liu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr. Microbiol."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1111\/1462-2920.13589","article-title":"Formation of propionate and butyrate by the human colonic microbiota","volume":"19","author":"Louis","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"600516","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2020.600516","article-title":"Comparing the bacterial community in the gastrointestinal tracts between growth-retarded and normal yaks on the qinghai-tibetan plateau","volume":"11","author":"Ma","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1093\/jas\/skx051","article-title":"Effect of increasing the level of alfalfa hay in finishing beef heifer diets on intake, sorting, and feeding behavior","volume":"96","author":"Madruga","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0129174","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0129174","article-title":"Rumen microbiome from steers differing in feed efficiency","volume":"10","author":"Myer","year":"2015","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1169","DOI":"10.1007\/s11250-011-9819-z","article-title":"Rumen development and growth of balouchi lambs offered alfalfa hay pre- and post-weaning","volume":"43","author":"Norouzian","year":"2011","journal-title":"Trop. Anim. Health Prod."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"511","DOI":"10.1007\/s00248-009-9609-6","article-title":"Rumen bacterial diversity dynamics associated with changing from bermudagrass hay to grazed winter wheat diets","volume":"59","author":"Pitta","year":"2010","journal-title":"Microb. Ecol."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104759","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2021.104759","article-title":"Performance, carcass and meat traits of beef steers finished on small-grain winter annuals in winter or on alfalfa pasture in summer","volume":"254","author":"Pordomingo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"721","DOI":"10.1007\/s00248-010-9692-8","article-title":"Comparative genome analysis of prevotella ruminicola and prevotella bryantii: insights into their environmental niche","volume":"60","author":"Purushe","year":"2010","journal-title":"Microb. Ecol."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9351507","DOI":"10.1155\/2017\/9351507","article-title":"Proteobacteria: a common factor in human diseases","volume":"2017","author":"Rizzatti","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biomed Res. Int."},{"key":"B24","first-page":"15","article-title":"\u201cAmylolytic bacteria that prevent lactate accumulation during in vitro ruminal fermentations,\u201d","author":"Rodriguez","year":"2000","journal-title":"Abstracts of the 25th Conference on Rumen Function, Chicago"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1325","DOI":"10.2527\/jas2016.1157","article-title":"Influence of forage source and forage inclusion level on growth performance, feeding behavior, and carcass characteristics in finishing steers","volume":"95","author":"Swanson","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"644967","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.644967","article-title":"Metabolomic and lipidomic approaches to evaluate the effects of eucommia ulmoides leaves on milk quality and biochemical properties","volume":"8","author":"Teng","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1363","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2018.01363","article-title":"Persistence of cellulolytic bacteria fibrobacter and treponema after short-term corn stover-based dietary intervention reveals the potential to improve rumen fibrolytic function","volume":"9","author":"Xie","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104876","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2022.104876","article-title":"Comparison of feeding value, ruminal fermentation and bacterial community of a diet comprised of various corn silages or combination with wheat straw in finishing beef cattle","volume":"258","author":"Zhang","year":"","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.5713\/ab.21.0088","article-title":"Effect of feeding a diet comprised of various corn silages inclusion with peanut vine or wheat straw on performance, digestion, serum parameters and meat nutrients in finishing beef cattle","volume":"35","author":"Zhang","year":"","journal-title":"Anim. Biosci."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"995","DOI":"10.1111\/jpn.13788","article-title":"Size, number and phospholipid composition of milk fat globules are affected by dietary conjugated linoleic acid","volume":"107","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1480","DOI":"10.1080\/10495398.2021.1909056","article-title":"Rumen bacteria and epithelial metabolism contribute to improving N utilization efficiency of calves","volume":"33","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Anim. Biotechnol."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1961267\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T06:07:52Z","timestamp":1790662072000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1961267\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]]},"references-count":31,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1961267"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2026.1961267","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-302X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-302X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]]},"article-number":"1961267"}}