Fig 3. Compositions of the bacterial (A), archaeal (B) and protozoal (C) communities in the rumen fluid of lambs fed fresh winter forage rape (rape) or fresh perennial ryegrass (grass).

The key below indicates the different forages and the time period of sampling [Period 1 (P1) or Period 2 (P2)]. The vertical bars indicate one standard error of the mean. Bacteria were analysed at a genus level, and groups labelled * are undefined genera within named higher taxa. Archaea and protozoa were analysed as in Fig. 2. More details of the bacterial community can be found in S5 Table.