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posted by martyb on Monday June 01 2020, @07:24PM   Printer-friendly
from the cow-a-bunga? dept.

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


Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by Pav on Tuesday June 02 2020, @01:14AM (1 child)

    by Pav (114) on Tuesday June 02 2020, @01:14AM (#1001973)

    If cattle and camels drink at the same water troughs apparently they swap rumen bacteria which allows the cattle to produce less methane, and also get more nutrition from harder to digest plants [abc.net.au]. I guess they're experimenting with more radically and permanently modifying cattle gut flora?

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  • (Score: 2) by martyb on Tuesday June 02 2020, @02:29AM

    by martyb (76) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday June 02 2020, @02:29AM (#1002005) Journal

    If cattle and camels drink at the same water troughs apparently they swap rumen bacteria which allows the cattle to produce less methane, and also get more nutrition from harder to digest plants [abc.net.au]. I guess they're experimenting with more radically and permanently modifying cattle gut flora?

    That's very interesting!

    I think I'll ruminate on it for a while...

     

    =)

    --
    Wit is intellect, dancing.