Bovine Host Genetic Variation Influences Rumen Microbial Methane Production with Best Selection Criterion for Low Methane Emitting and Efficiently Feed Converting Hosts Based on Metagenomic Gene Abundance

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005846
• Publication Date: 2016-02-18T21:26:10Z
• Authors: Rainer Roehe; Richard J. Dewhurst; Carol-Anne Duthie; John A. Rooke; Nest McKain; Dave W. Ross; Jimmy J. Hyslop; Anthony Waterhouse; Tom C. Freeman; Mick Watson; R. John Wallace
• Keywords: Sire; Methane Emissions

Methane produced by methanogenic archaea in ruminants contributes significantly to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The host genetic link controlling microbial methane production is unknown and appropriate selection strategies are not developed. We used sire progeny group differences estimate the influence on rumen a factorial experiment consisting of crossbred breed types diets. Rumen metagenomic profiling was undertaken investigate links between genes emissions or feed conversion efficiency. Sire groups differed their measured respiration chambers. Ranking based relative archaeal abundance consistent overall within diet, suggesting that ruminal digesta under control can be genetically select animals without measuring directly. In analysis contents, we identified 3970 which 20 49 were associated with efficiency respectively. These explained 81% 86% respective variation clustered distinct functional gene networks. Methanogenesis (e.g. mcrA fmdB) emissions, whilst host-microbiome cross talk TSTA3 FucI) results strengthen idea animal controls its own microbiota significant extent open up implementation effective breeding using as predictor for difficult-to-measure traits large number hosts. Generally, provide proof principle use gastrointestinal tract different species predict e.g. human metabolism, health behaviour, well understand microbiome.