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Researchers control cattle microbiomes to reduce methane and greenhouse gases:
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have learned to control the microbiome of cattle for the first time which could inhibit their methane production, and therefore reduce a major source of greenhouse gasses.
[...] The animal microbiome is a scientifically unexplored area. It protects against germs, breaks down food to release energy, and produces vitamins and exerts great control over many aspects of animal and human physical systems. Microbes are introduced at birth and produce a unique microbiome that evolves over time.
Mizrahi and his group have been conducting a three-year experiment with 50 cows divided into two groups. One group gave birth naturally, and the other through cesarean section. That difference was enough to change microbiome development and composition microbiome of the cows from each group.
Changing the birthing method changed the microbiome of the calves.
Journal Reference:
Ori Furman, Liat Shenhav, Goor Sasson, et al. Stochasticity constrained by deterministic effects of diet and age drive rumen microbiome assembly dynamics [open], Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15652-8)
Previously:
(2019-06-19) Seaweed Feed Additive Cuts Livestock Methane but Poses Questions
(2018-09-01) Researchers Feed Seaweed To Dairy Cows To Reduce Emissions
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 01 2020, @07:46PM (3 children)
The cattle in the real world is fed antibiotics to produce more of those; changes their microbiome too, obviously. If the anti-fart change has the opposite effect, the research is purely a brain fart.
As to the "changing the birthing method changed the microbiome", for human babies that fact is known for some time already. Not much reason for it to be different in animals.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday June 01 2020, @08:39PM (2 children)
its not even specifically the antibiotics. those are mostly used because there is a constant risk of infections of the herds due to the crowding. Another reason for the (over) use in Dairy cows is the rBST causes a higher rate of udder infections in the Dairy cows.
A cow eating grass, as it is evolved to do, doesn't generate nearly as much methane as corn/grain feed cows. The wrong diet causes their gut biom to get screwed up and gives them problems, a main one being gas.
Given the choice a cow will always eat grass.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday June 01 2020, @09:05PM
All Cows Eat Grass.
F A C E
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 1) by petecox on Tuesday June 02 2020, @12:07AM
The next step, surely, is to trial new species of pasture that enhance the cow's microbiome (c.f. the seaweed experiment).
[Aside: on a personal note, some of you may have noticed I myself may have been a little more gassy. With help from family and neighbours, I'm eating my way thru my inaugural Jerusalem artichoke harvest, whose inulin has a prebiotic effect. Amazing though how 1 single tuber can produce a 2 metre high bush of miniature sunflowers and a 10 litre bucketful of tubers, in a suburban yard!]