Role of Ruminal Prokaryotes in Phenotypic Variability of Methane Emission in Dairy Cows — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Role of Ruminal Prokaryotes in Phenotypic Variability of Methane Emission in Dairy Cows

Name: Stefanie Huttelmaier
Major: Environmental Science and Biology
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
Faculty Sponsor: Deborah Tobiason
Other Sponsors: None
Type of research: Senior thesis

Abstract

Ruminant livestock host a rich community of microbiota that are responsible for enteric fermentation. The microbiome degrades a cellulose-rich diet into volatile fatty acids (VFA), an accessible energy source to the host ruminant. The process also results in the waste product methane when alternative end-product H2 is reduced by an archaeal population known as methanogens during methanogenesis. Ruminants are responsible for 17% of global methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with 28 times the warming potential of CO2. Methane also accounts for an estimated 2-12% of lost digestive efficiency that might otherwise be used by the animal. Phenotypes of high methane emission (HM) and low methane emission (LM) have been characterized in multiple ruminant species, and are linked with distinct microbiomes. Methanogen species Methanobrevibacter ruminantium has been linked to LM, and M. gottschalkii to HM. The bacteria associated with LM are known propionate and succinate, which contribute less H2 to downstream methanogenesis. The opposite is true of the HM-associated bacteria, which suggests the metabolic activity of the bacterial community influences the activity of ruminal methanogens, and ultimately, host phenotype. This study will test whether the methane emission profile of the ruminant microbiome can be manipulated through ruminal content mixing during in vitro fermentation. These experiments will be carried out at the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, WI. Aim 1) Determine methane and VFA production, and 16S microbial profile of in vitro fermentations inoculated with rumen fluid from high- and low-emission animals individually, and in mixture. Aim 2) Use pure cultures of M. ruminantium (LM) or M. gottschalkii (HM) as additives in in vitro fermentations inoculated with rumen fluid from high- and low-emission animals. This research will provide preliminary data to inform a future live animal trial that will assess the host genetic effect on rumen methanogenesis.

Poster file