| Livestock
DNA study of cow stomachs could aid meat and
dairy production
Meat and milk production from cattle could one day be boosted, thanks to analysis of microbes in cows’ stomachs.
he study paves the
way for research
to understand
which types of
microbe – such as
bacteria – are best
at helping cattle to extract energy
from their food, experts say.
It also identifies enzymes that
are specialised for breaking down
plant material, which could help in
the quest to develop new biofuels.
Researchers led by the
University of Edinburgh’s Roslin
Institute and Scotland’s Rural
College (SRUC) focused on
microbes found in a cow’s rumen
– the first of its four stomachs.
The rumen is home to diverse
strains of microorganisms, such as
bacteria, archaea and fungi, which
help the animal to extract energy
and nutrients from its food.
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The team used an advanced
technique called metagenomics,
which involves analysing the
genetic composition all of the
microbes that exist within an
organism, in this case a cow.
They studied samples of rumen
gut contents from 43 cows and
identified 913 diverse strains of
microbes living in the rumen.
Most of the microbes uncovered
have never been seen before and
may have potential uses in the
biofuels and biotechnology
industries.
By analysing their genetic
information, the team pinpointed
previously unknown enzymes that
can extract energy and nutrition
from plant material.
Beef and dairy cattle, and other
milk-producing ruminants, provide
food and nutrition to billions of
people worldwide.
Understanding how these
animals convert plant-based diets
into energy will be vital for
securing the future of the world’s
food supplies, experts say.
The research, published in the
journal Nature Communications,
was carried out in collaboration
with experts at The Rowett Institute
at the University of Aberdeen.
The Roslin Institute receives
strategic funding from the
Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Research Council.
Professor Mick Watson, of the
University of Edinburgh’s Roslin
Institute, said: “This has been a
truly fascinating study, and really
we are only beginning to
understand what these microbes
do. The fact most of them were
very different to microbes that
have already been discovered
surprised us, so we just can’t wait
to study them further. If we can
improve the efficiency of digestion
in cows and other ruminants, we
may be able to produce more food
for people whilst using fewer
resources. This is a key aim of
improving global food security.”
Professor Rainer Roehe from
SRUC said: “The newly identified
microbial species in the rumen of
beef cattle will greatly improve our
understanding of how the rumen
microbial ecosystem works. Using
breeding and nutritional
interventions, we will be able to
use this information to help
improve cattle health and
performance throughout the
world.”
SmartCow research network to
promote innovation in the sector
Agrimetrics to partner in INRA-led consortium.
martCow – a research network
of 3,500 cattle and 30 pan-
European projects – is to be
created by the French National
Institute for Agricultural
Research (INRA) to promote
innovation in the European cattle sector. UK-
based Agrimetrics is supporting the consortium
of ten research institutes with its expertise in big
data for the agri-food industry.
Professor Richard Tiffin, Chief Scientific
Officer for Agrimetrics, explains its role: “The
SmartCow research network will generate a
significant amount of valuable data and
Agrimetrics brings its expertise in data
management to the consortium. It will create
integrated data sets, increasing significantly the
range of analyses that can be conducted. For
example, it will be possible to combine data
from different methane emission sensors to
improve our understanding of how diet affects
the release of this greenhouse gas from dairy
farms.”
The INRA research infrastructure of ten
research institutes brings together scientific
and technical skills in animal nutrition, genetics,
health and welfare, data management and
knowledge transfer. In the UK this includes
SRUC's Beef & Sheep Research Centre,
SRUC's Dairy Research Centre, and the
University of Reading Centre for Dairy
Research.
Rene Baumont, SmartCow project
coordinator, comments: “SmartCow will
increase access to the most advanced research
facilities and equipment for the cattle sector
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across Europe. It aims to improve the quality
and ethics of cattle research through
identification and promotion of best practices,
new measurements techniques, and smart
technologies.”
Professor Richard Dewhurst at SRUC
comments: “SRUC is delighted that both its
Beef Research facilities based near Edinburgh
and its Dairy Research facilities at Dumfries are
part of this major European infrastructure; we
look forward to welcoming industry and
academic groups to conduct exciting new
research projects at our facilities.”
Joint research activities will include: refining
methods and proxies for evaluating feed
efficiency and emissions; developing new
Richard Tiffin, Agrimetrics' Chief
Scientific Adviser
protocols to reduce the use of animals; and
producing new methods to exploit sensor data
for cattle husbandry.
March 2018 | Farming Monthly | 27