ARS | Publication request: NEW AND EMERGING APPROACHES TO IMPROVE HERBIVORE NUTRITION: RUMEN MICROBIOLOGY IN THE GENOMICS ERA

Submitted to: Proceedings of International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: May 15, 2004
Publication Date: July 15, 2004
Citation: Morrison, M., Nelson, K.E., Mackie, R.I., Forsberg, C.W., Russell, J.B., White, B.A., Wilson, D.B. 2004. New and emerging approaches to improve herbivore nutrition: rumen microbiology in the genomics era. Proceedings of International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores. p. 309-320.

Technical Abstract: New opportunities to overcome the existing constraints to ruminal function and herbivore nutrition are most likely to arise from the integration of genomics-enabled studies into research programs in rumen microbiology. Genomics and related technologies also offer new and exciting opportunities to re-establish the rumen and its microbes as a useful system for better understanding the structure and function of anaerobic microbial communities. However, in many ways, rumen microbiology has reached a crossroads. Its future vitality as a field of investigation is largely dependent on how effectively the study of ruminal microbes contributes new knowledge to our understanding of microbial biology. Hopefully, the activities underway within the North American consortium and in New Zealand will provide the necessary impetus to ensure this happens to a greater extent than currently exists.