Comparison of Rumen Fermentation, Bacterial Communities and Microbial Protein Synthesis Between Yaks and Qaidam Cattle Fattened in A Small-holder Feedlot

Yaks (<italic>Poephagus grunniens</italic>), native to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, are well adapted to the harsh alpine environment. It was reported that yaks digest low-quality forage more efficiently and require less protein and energy for maintenance than Qaidam cattle (<italic>Bos taurus</italic>). Given the central role of rumen bacteria in nutrient degradation, we hypothesized that interspecies differences in ruminal bacterial composition may underlie the yak