Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the rumen microbial diversity and functionality in buffaloes fed with a blend of essential oils (BEO) using LSD switch over design. The BEO consisting of blend of Trachyspermum copticum (Ajwain) oil, Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) oil and Syzygium aromaticum (clove bud) oleoresin mixed in equal proportion, was fed at the rate of 0, 0.75 and 1.5 ml/100 kg of body weight in 0 (control), 0.75 and 1.5 groups, respectively. The metatranscriptomic libraries of the rumen microbiome were represented by 7 domains, 84 phyla, 64 archeal genera and 663 bacterial genera with Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes constituting 80% of phyla abundance irrespective of feeding regime. Methanogenic archaea was represented by 22 phyla with Methanobrevibacter as the major genus. BEO feeding reduced the abundance of Methanococcus and Thermoplasma (P < 0.05) at all levels. The results revealed that the feeding of BEO shifted the archeal and bacterial population at very low magnitude. The study explored the vast diversity of buffalo rumen bacteria and archaea, and the diverse wealth of rumen enzymes (CAZymes), which revealed that a major part of CAZymes comes from the less known rumen microbes indicating alternative paths of fiber degradation along with the very well known ones.