Agricultural Research Service scientists and their cooperators are using high tech tools to better understand the microbial “soup” of the cow’s rumen. The rumen is the first of four stomach chambers where tough plant fibers are turned into nutrients and energy. Derek Bickhart, a research microbiologist, estimates there are more than 30,000 species of rumen-dwelling organisms. Fewer than 2,000 have been adequately characterized, which makes studying the microbiome challenging.
Source: Drovers, August 29, 2019. Link. The team’s use of its specialized DNA extraction and sequencing procedures also revealed new insights about “bacteriophages”. These viruses hijack the genomes of bacteria to replicate themselves.
. . . knowledge of the rumen microbial community will be critical to estimating the feed efficiency of cattle and identifying microbes that contribute directly to milk fat production,” said Bickhart.