Gut microbiome and omics: A new definition to ruminant production and health

Abstract

• Mammalians are considered as "superorganisms" due to the presence of dense and dynamic microbiota in the digestive tract that perform a wide range of metabolically, immunologically, and physiologically crucial tasks. • The composition and functions of gut microbiota have been studied using "omics" based approaches without isolation and cultivation of microbes. • Omics have been used in defining host phenotypes, such as susceptibility to diseases in humans. • In-depth analyses of the ruminant gut microbiome (rumen and lower gut) using "omics" will help identifying microbial biomarkers that may define production and health phenotypes/susceptibility to diseases in the future.