{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T23:13:01Z","timestamp":1782861181805,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"23","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,27]],"date-time":"2024-11-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1732665600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Terragen Biotech Pty Ltd."}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The rumen microbiota of dairy cows plays a crucial role in fermenting fibrous material, essential for nutrient extraction and overall productivity, detoxification of anti-nutritional toxic compounds, synthesis of vital nutrients, and is essential for optimal animal health. This study investigated the impact of Lentilactobacillus-, Lactocaseibacillus-, and Lacticaseibacillus-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) supplementation on dairy cows\u2019 faecal microbial composition and diversity. The study was carried out on a commercial dairy farm using 50 Holstein-Friesian cows randomly assigned into control (CON) and treatment (TRT) groups. Faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum every two months from September 2021 to January 2023. The bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS-1 regions were amplified, sequenced, and analysed. Microbial diversity was assessed through alpha- and beta-diversity metrics. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was performed to identify which taxa were driving the changes seen in the microbiota over time and treatment. Bacteroidaceae were the most prevalent bacterial family, followed by Lachnospiraceae and Muribaculaceae in both CON and TRT cows. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota were the dominant three fungal phyla in the faeces of both CON and TRT cows. Bacterial genera Fructilactobacillus was abundant in the CON and Absicoccus in the TRT groups. Fungal taxa Chaetothryriales_incertae_sedis and Pseudomentella were absent in the faeces of TRT cows. Significant temporal and specific taxonomic differences were observed between the CON and TRT groups. The study\u2019s findings underscore the dynamic nature of microbial communities and the importance of targeted dietary interventions. Further research is necessary to elucidate these microbial shifts, long-term impacts, and functional implications, aiming to optimise ruminant nutrition and enhance dairy cow performance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14233437","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,27]],"date-time":"2024-11-27T11:26:08Z","timestamp":1732706768000},"page":"3437","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Temporal Changes in Faecal Microbiota Composition and Diversity in Dairy Cows Supplemented with a Lactobacillus-Based Direct-Fed Microbial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9090-764X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bronwyn E.","family":"Campbell","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC 3068, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6495-4637","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammad Mahmudul","family":"Hassan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0776-5861","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Robert J.","family":"Moore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC 3068, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Timothy","family":"Olchowy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3R 1J3, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4586-4983","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shahab","family":"Ranjbar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7270-0589","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martin","family":"Soust","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Terragen Biotech Pty Ltd., Coolum Beach, QLD 4573, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4833-7094","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Orlando","family":"Ramirez-Garzon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Terragen Biotech Pty Ltd., Coolum Beach, QLD 4573, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rafat","family":"Al Jassim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4314-9123","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"John I.","family":"Alawneh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14567","DOI":"10.1038\/srep14567","article-title":"Rumen microbial community composition varies with diet and host, but a core microbiome is found across a wide geographical range","volume":"5","author":"Henderson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sci. 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