Effect of multi-species microbial combinations on feed digestibility during in vitro rumen fermentation

Rumen fluid was collected from a fistulated dairy cow maintained on a consistent grass diet and incubated with a monensin-containing total mixed ration under controlled conditions. Treatments included individual and combined supplementation of bacterial (Bacillus spizizenii, Lacticaseibacillus casei) and yeast (Pichia kudriavzevii) strains.

Amplicon sequencing targeted both the 16S rRNA gene (bacterial community) and the 18S rRNA gene (eukaryotic community), and data are provided as separate OTU tables. The dataset represents microbial community composition and diversity across treatments, enabling assessment of microbial shifts and potential synergistic interactions associated with direct-fed microbial supplementation.