The rumen microbiome of yak co-evolves with its host probably adding the adaptation to its harsh environments Congcong Zhao Northwest A&F University: Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Lamei Wang Northwest A&F University: Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Shanlin Ke Harvard Medical School Xinhua Chen Harvard Medical School Ákos Kenéz City University of Hong Kong Wei Xu City University of Hong Kong Dangdang Wang Northwest A&F University: Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Fan Zhang Northwest A&F University: Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Yong Li Northwest A&F University: Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Zhanhong Cui Qinghai University Yu Qiao Yangling Vocational and Technical College Jing Wang Northwest A&F University: Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Wenjuan Sun Shanghai Majorbro Bio-pharm Technology Co. Ltd Jianhua Zhao Shanghai Majorbio Bio-pharm Technology Co. Ltd Junhu Yao Northwest A&F University: Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Zhongtang Yu The Ohio State University Yangchun Cao (
[email protected] ) Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1033-2909 Research Keywords: High plateau ruminants, Rumen microbiome, metagenome, metabolome Posted Date: August 3rd, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-754317/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/23 Abstract Background Rumen microbes play an important role in ruminant energy supply and animal performance. Previous studies showed that yak (Bos grunniens) rumen microbiome and fermentation differ from other ruminants. However, little is understood on the features of the rumen microbiome that make yak adapted to its unique environmental and dietary conditions.