Abstract
The adaptation of Zulu (Nguni) sheep (Ovis aries) to environmental stress and survival under extensive conditions makes them uniquely important to rural Nguni farmers of South Africa. Here, the faecal bacterial community of five Zulu sheep populations managed under extensive conditions across summer and winter seasons was investigated in order to understand the influence of prevailing seasonal factors. Bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs)/species (at 97% 16S rRNA gene similarity) in Zulu sheep faeces were more diverse in winter than in summer at most (80%) sites and varied between seasons at specific sites. Firmicutes was the most abundant phyla in both summer and winter seasons, while the relative abundance of Actinobacteria reduced in 80% of sites from summer to winter. The genera (or family) such as Akkermansia, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, Intestinibacter, R-7 group (family Christensenellaceae), Ruminococcus, Ruminoclostridium, Treponema and UCG-005 (family Ruminococcaceae) were relatively more abundant and belonged to a ‘core microbiome’ of Zulu sheep faeces. Between seasons, Acinetobacter, Jeotgalicoccus, Methanobrevibacter, Phascolarctobacterium and Planomicrobium were differentially abundant. Overall, results suggest increased richness and diversity of bacteria from summer to winter which may be related to spatio-seasonal variations in grazing management, forage types and availability. This observation serves as baseline evidence, justifying further controlled studies investigating, amongst other factors, effects of forage type and availability across seasons on ruminal microbiota of Zulu sheep grazing in communally managed rangelands.
 Significance:
 
 Spatio-seasonal dynamics in the bacterial community of Zulu sheep faeces suggest differences in forage type and availability across sites potentially influence faecal bacteria of Zulu sheep.
 The study provides a basis for further controlled studies investigating the influence of environmental factors on rumen and faecal microbiomes of Zulu sheep.
 
 Open data set: 
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra/?term=PRJNA356736
Highlights
South Africa, like other developing countries, faces the challenge of an increasing population and food insecurity
Through field surveys and farmer and researcher interviews, we explored opportunities to improve yield in a sustainable manner for irrigation wheat farmers
Cultivar choice was shown to be an important decision in improving irrigation wheat yield in South Africa
Summary
South Africa, like other developing countries, faces the challenge of an increasing population and food insecurity. The national yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) decreased by approximately 740 000 tons between 2002 and 2012,1 leaving a gap of approximately 1 million tons annually, which had to be imported. This trend has continued to the present. There are basically two options for increasing wheat production in South Africa: to expand the area under production (horizontal expansion) and to increase yields of existing croplands (vertical expansion). This must be done in ways that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. The increase is unlikely to come from horizontal expansion due to competing land uses from other important agricultural sectors
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