Metagenomic approaches in understanding the rumen function and establishing the rumen microbial diversity

Abstract

Livestock production in developing countries is subsidiary to plant agriculture. In tropical countries, ruminants are fed on lignocellulosic byproducts like cereal straws, tree foliages, and cakes of oilseeds. The rumen harbors complex microbial communities which play a critical role in efficient utilization of such complex plant materials. The metagenome of the rumen is considered a determining factor for the effi ciency of the particular digestive metabolism of ruminants as well as the accompanying environmental problems. Gene signature and biological fi ngerprinting of microorganisms present in ruminants is an important area of scientifi c research. Recent advances in the ruminant gut microbiology and genomics now offer new opportunities to conduct a more holistic examination of the structure and function of rumen ecology. The importance of rumen microbial signature and diversity of microorganisms in the ruminant forestomach has gained increasing attention in response to recent trends in global livestock production. Applied metagenomics has the potential for providing insight into the functional dynamics of the ruminomics database and will help to achieve a major goal of rumen ecosystem; microbial communities function and interact among these microbes as well as with the host. In this book chapter, we highlight recent studies of the buffalo rumen microbiome in rumen ecology, nutrition, animal effi ciency, and microbial function.