Improving rumen function (Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science, 83) Illustrated Edition

Optimizing Rumen Function for Sustainable Livestock Production

This collection reviews what we know about rumen microbiota and the role of nutritional strategies in optimising their function for more sustainable livestock production. Major advances in analytical techniques and genomics have transformed our understanding of rumen microbiology, which is of critical importance since rumen function affects nutritional efficiency, emissions from ruminants (such as methane and nitrous oxide), and animal health.

Key Features

• Microbiome Analysis: Part 1 summarises advances in methods for analysing the rumen microbiome, ensuring you have the latest tools and knowledge for research.
• Microbial Roles: Part 2 reviews recent research on the role of different types of rumen microbiota, such as bacteria, archaea, anaerobic fungi, and viruses, as well as the rumen wall microbial community.
• Nutrient Processing: Part 3 discusses the way the rumen processes nutrients such as fibre and protein, as well as key outputs such as energy, lipids, and methane emissions.
• Nutritional Strategies: Part 4 explores nutritional strategies to optimise rumen function, including the role of pasture, silage, cereal feed, plant secondary compounds, and probiotics.
• Sustainability Focus: The book ties advanced microbial understanding directly to nutritional efficiency and the reduction of environmental emissions from ruminants, supporting sustainable livestock production.