Host genotype-microbiota-metabolome interactions modulate semen quality in Holstein bulls.

Fibrobacter enrichment in rumen and linked metabolites is associated with higher semen quality in 55 Holstein bulls, with 511 SNPs jointly linked to these markers.

• Why it matters: Semen quality is crucial for dairy fertility, yet the combined roles of host genetics, rumen microbes, and metabolites in bulls are not well defined.
• What they did: The study integrated rumen microbiota, metabolome, and genome-wide variation from 55 Holstein bulls split into RSQH and RSQL, using machine learning and GWAS to prioritize candidate indicators.
• The result: Fibrobacter, thromboxane B2, and N1-[4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl]-4-chlorobenzamide emerged as candidate semen-quality indicators, and structural equation modeling linked C2-type variants to semen traits via microbial and metabolite enrichment.

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