Microbiome
Role of the rumen microbiome (microbial species and genes) in animal performance.
The Beef & Sheep Research Centre provides optimal conditions to carry out rumen microbiome research. Techniques and protocols to take rumen microbiome samples on live and from slaughtered animals have been developed. Â Some of the outcomes of the research are:
- There is a link between host genetics and microbial community affecting methane emissions
- The microbial community or microbial genes can be used to predict methane emissions
- Algorithms to predict feed efficiency from the abundance of rumen genes have been developed
- Strategies are developed to include information of the rumen microbiome into breeding programmes to mitigate methane emissions and improve feed efficiency
- Substantial diet effects on the rumen microbial community and microbial genes were found
- Antimicrobial resistance genes have been identified in the rumen microbial community of phenotypically healthy animals
- The change of the rumen microbial community during the growing finishing period has been investigated
The use of the microbiome to predict animal performance is expected to have a substantial impact in future breeding programmes, nutritional intervention and husbandry to improve performance, mitigate environmental impact of animal production as well as enhancing animal health and welfare.