Characterization of methanogens and their key genes associated with methane production in beef cattle: linkage to host performance

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It is well known that ruminants and ruminal microorganisms have a symbiotic relationship which microbial fermentation of ingested feed plays a major role in supplement of energy for metabolic functions in cattle. The rumen of cattle can be considered as an active "bio-reactor" producing many unknown bio-products, which are fundamental components for cattle's daily nutrition uptake, production, and health maintenance. Up to date, the understanding of the biological process of microbes in the rumen is insufficient and the linkage between the microbial functions with host's performance, for example, methane production, has not been well understood. Methane gas is the end product of the microbial decomposition of organic matter in the rumen by a group of archaea, the methanogens. It has been estimated that methane production by ruminants is about 15% of total atmospheric emissions. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the ecology ruminal methanogens and their produced enzymes with the methane production trait of beef cattle. Firstly, the diversity of methanogens in the rumen will be investigated using culture independent methods. Secondly, functions of microbial key genes in the methane biosynthesis will be analyzed by the measurement of their genetic and expression variations. Last, the roles of methanogens and the above key enzymes will be investigated in a group of animals under different diets to elucidate their relationships to the methane production in beef cattle. The long-term goal of this study is to deliver a research program that can elucidate the associations between the biofunctions of rumen microbes and host phenotypical performance, and to apply the knowledge to improve host's production and health traits.