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Review
. 2019;10(2):115-132.
doi: 10.1080/19490976.2018.1505176. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

The rumen microbiome: a crucial consideration when optimising milk and meat production and nitrogen utilisation efficiency

Chloe Matthews  1   2   3   4 , Fiona Crispie  1   2   3   4 , Eva Lewis  1   2   3   4 , Michael Reid  1   2   3   4 , Paul W O'Toole  1   2   3   4 , Paul D Cotter  1   2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

The rumen microbiome: a crucial consideration when optimising milk and meat production and nitrogen utilisation efficiency

Chloe Matthews et al. Gut Microbes. 2019.

Abstract

Methane is generated in the foregut of all ruminant animals by the microorganisms present. Dietary manipulation is regarded as the most effective and most convenient way to reduce methane emissions (and in turn energy loss in the animal) and increase nitrogen utilization efficiency. This review examines the impact of diet on bovine rumen function and outlines what is known about the rumen microbiome. Our understanding of this area has increased significantly in recent years due to the application of omics technologies to determine microbial composition and functionality patterns in the rumen. This information can be combined with data on nutrition, rumen physiology, nitrogen excretion and/or methane emission to provide comprehensive insights into the relationship between rumen microbial activity, nitrogen utilisation efficiency and methane emission, with an ultimate view to the development of new and improved intervention strategies.

Keywords: Rumen; culture independent; genomics; microbiome; shotgun.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The ruminant gastrointestinal tract (Adapted from Depeters & George 2014).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Rumen microbiome project workflow including options for metabolomics and metaproteomics (Figure adapted from Deusch et al. (2014)).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Microbial methanogenic degradation of plant fibre in bovine dairy animals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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