Addressing global ruminant agricultural challenges through understanding the rumen microbiome: Past, present, and future
Citation
Huws, S.A., Creevey, C.J., Oyama, L.B., Mizrahi, I., Denman, S.E., Popova, M., Muñoz-Tamayo, R., Forano, E., Waters, S.M., Hess, M., Tapio, I., Smidt, H., Krizsan, S.J., Yáñez-Ruiz, D.R., Belanche, A., Guan, L., Gruninger, R.J., McAllister, T.A., Newbold, C.J., Roehe, R., Dewhurst, R.J., Snelling, T.J., Watson, M., Suen, G., Hart, E.H., Kingston-Smith, A.H., Scollan, N.D., Do Prado, R.M., Pilau, E.J., Mantovani, H.C., Attwood, G.T., Edwards, J.E., McEwan, N.R., Morrisson, S., Mayorga, O.L., Elliott, C., Morgavi, D.P. (2018). Addressing global ruminant agricultural challenges through understanding the rumen microbiome: Past, present, and future, 9(SEP), http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02161
Plain language summary
The rumen is a complex ecosystem composed of anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, fungi, methanogenic archaea and phages. These microbes interact closely to breakdown plant material that cannot be digested by humans, whilst providing metabolic energy to the host and, in the case of archaea, producing methane. Ruminants produce meat and milk, which are rich in high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals, and therefore contribute to food security. The world population is predicted to reach approximately 9.7 billion by 2050 and increasing ruminant production will be important to satisfy global protein demand. Understanding of the influence of the rumen microbiome on animal productivity will be a key component for achieving the goal of feeding the increasing global population. Current attempts to manipulate the rumen microbiome in a directed way have been met with limited success. This can be attributed to a lack of understanding of this microbiome and our limited ability to culture most of these microbes outside the rumen. The potential to manipulate the rumen microbiome and meet global livestock challenges through animal breeding and introduction of dietary interventions during early life have recently emerged as promising new technologies. Advances in computational tools, high-throughput sequencing technologies and cultivation-independent "omics" approaches continue to revolutionize our understanding of the rumen microbiome. This will ultimately provide the knowledge framework needed to solve current and future ruminant livestock challenges.
Abstract
© 2007 - 2018 Frontiers Media S.A. All Rights Reserved.The rumen is a complex ecosystem composed of anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, fungi, methanogenic archaea and phages. These microbes interact closely to breakdown plant material that cannot be digested by humans, whilst providing metabolic energy to the host and, in the case of archaea, producing methane. Consequently, ruminants produce meat and milk, which are rich in high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals, and therefore contribute to food security. As the world population is predicted to reach approximately 9.7 billion by 2050, an increase in ruminant production to satisfy global protein demand is necessary, despite limited land availability, and whilst ensuring environmental impact is minimized. Although challenging, these goals can be met, but depend on our understanding of the rumen microbiome. Attempts to manipulate the rumen microbiome to benefit global agricultural challenges have been ongoing for decades with limited success, mostly due to the lack of a detailed understanding of this microbiome and our limited ability to culture most of these microbes outside the rumen. The potential to manipulate the rumen microbiome and meet global livestock challenges through animal breeding and introduction of dietary interventions during early life have recently emerged as promising new technologies. Our inability to phenotype ruminants in a high-throughput manner has also hampered progress, although the recent increase in "omic" data may allow further development of mathematical models and rumen microbial gene biomarkers as proxies. Advances in computational tools, high-throughput sequencing technologies and cultivation-independent "omics" approaches continue to revolutionize our understanding of the rumen microbiome. This will ultimately provide the knowledge framework needed to solve current and future ruminant livestock challenges.