Comparative Analysis of the Potential Adaptability of Tibetan Dzo and Yellow Cattle Based on Blood Indices, Metabolites, and Fecal Microbiota

TL;DR

This study compares the adaptability of dzo (a hybrid of cattle and yaks) and Tibetan yellow cattle to the harsh Tibetan Plateau environment using blood and microbiota data.

Contribution

The study identifies specific blood metabolites and gut microbiota differences that explain dzo's superior adaptability to high-altitude conditions.

Findings

Dzo showed higher levels of serum albumin, creatinine, and antioxidants compared to Tibetan yellow cattle.

Dzo had higher phospholipids with long-chain PUFAs, aiding adaptation to the plateau environment.

Akkermansia bacteria were enriched in dzo fecal microbiota, potentially contributing to their adaptability.

Abstract

Tibetan yellow cattle and dzo are important meat sources for people living on the Tibetan Plateau. As a hybrid offspring of Tibetan yellow cattle and yaks, dzo inherit the advantages of their parent generations. However, the differences in the blood metabolites and ecological adaptability of Tibetan yellow cattle and dzo remain unclear. In this study, we have explored the potential difference in environmental adaptability between these two breeds of animals by analyzing their blood-based physiological and biochemical parameters, serum metabolites, and fecal microorganisms. The results revealed that dzo showed better adaptation to the high-altitude and low-temperature environment of the Tibetan Plateau, as compared to Tibetan yellow cattle. This study provides a basis for understanding the adaptive mechanism of dzo in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

This study aimed to investigate the differences in environmental adaptability between dzo and Tibetan yellow cattle by using corresponding assay kits to analyze blood indices, utilizing mass spectrometry for blood metabolite profiling, and performing 16S rDNA sequencing of fecal microbiota. Forty female cattle were randomly divided into a dzomo (female dzo) group (MG, n = 20) and a Tibetan-yellow-cattle group (HG, n = 20). After 150 days of uniform feeding, six cattle from each group were randomly picked for jugular blood sampling and collection of fecal microorganisms. The results showed that the serum albumin, creatinine, total protein, superoxide dismutase, IgG, and IgM concentrations in the MG group were higher (p < 0.05), whereas the serum triglyceride concentration was lower, compared to the HG group (p < 0.05). The higher level of phospholipids containing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (PC (18:5e/2:0), PC (20:5e/2:0), LPC 18:2, LPC 20:5) observed in the serum of the dzo suggests that they have an advantage in adapting to the challenging conditions of the plateau environment. The fecal microbiota analysis showed that Akkermansia was significantly enriched in the MG group; this might be the key bacterial genus leading to the strong adaptability of dzo. Our findings indicated the dzo’s superior adaptation to the Tibetan Plateau’s harsh environment.

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