A heritable subset of the core rumen microbiome dictates dairy cow productivity and emissions

Abstract

A 1000-cow study across four European countries was undertaken to understand to what extent ruminant microbiomes can be controlled by the host animal and to identify characteristics of the host rumen microbiome axis that determine productivity and methane emissions. A core rumen microbiome, phylogenetically linked and with a preserved hierarchical structure, was identified. A 39-member subset of the core formed hubs in co-occurrence networks linking microbiome structure to host genetics and phenotype (methane emissions, rumen and blood metabolites, and milk production efficiency). These phenotypes can be predicted from the core microbiome using machine learning algorithms. The heritable core microbes, therefore, present primary targets for rumen manipulation toward sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.

Resveratrol affects in vitro rumen fermentation, methane production and prokaryotic community composition in a time‐ and diet‐specific manner

“…Succinivibrionaceae ferments carbohydrates to produce succinate, a precursor of propionate (Pope et al , 2011). Several bacterial taxa belonging to the order Bacteroidales were reported to be positively correlated with propionate production in the rumen of cattle (Wallace et al , 2019). In addition, higher relative abundance of Lactobacillus was detected under RES, which could also contribute to the higher molar proportion of propionate.…”

Association between Rumen Microbiota and Marbling Score in Korean Native Beef Cattle

“…HMS-enriched Paludibacter, a bacterial genus of Porphyromonadaceae, ferments glucose to produce acetate and propionate as the major fermentation products [52], the former of which is a lipogenic precursor. Particularly, RFP12, which represents >80% of the abundance of Verrucomicrobia, was previously designated core-heritable microbiota in dairy cows corresponding to levels of methane and rumen and blood metabolites, as well as milk production [53]. Because host specificity strongly affects an individual's microbiota [54], the selection of Hanwoo beef based on the composition of the rumen microbiota might increase marbling in meat at the fattening stage.…”

Evolutionary transitions revisited: Holobiont evo‐devo

“…The developmental symbiosis of the rumen leads to the nutritional symbiosis that sustains the cow. Indeed, many of the genetically transmitted phenotypes of the cow (including the efficiency of milk production and methane emissions) can be predicted from the composition of the rumen microbiome (Wallace, Sasson, & Garnsworthy, ). We see here the complex developmental integration that coordinates the life cycles of component organisms— Bos and microbes—into a complex whole.…”