Mining the rumen for fibrolytic feed enzymes

Abstract

• Demand for meat and milk is predicted to double by 2050, and meeting this increased demand represents a "grand challenge for humanity." • Sustainable production practices for ruminants will require more efficient utilization of feed, with a greater emphasis on the use of fibrous feedstuffs. • Fibrolytic enzyme cocktails have the potential to improve the nutritional value of low quality forages, such as straw, and improve overall feed efficiency in ruminants. • Available commercial fibrolytic enzymes are not specifically developed for use in ruminant livestock and have not consistently improved ruminal fiber digestion. • "-Omics" including, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, have improved our understanding of rumen microbes and the enzymes involved in deconstruction of plant cell walls. • A better understanding of the enzymes that limit plant cell wall deconstruction in the rumen could lead to more effective fibrolytic enzyme additives for ruminants.