Combining host and rumen metagenome profiling for selection in sheep: prediction of methane, feed efficiency, production, and health traits.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rumen microbes break down complex dietary carbohydrates into energy sources for the host and are increasingly shown to be a key aspect of animal performance. Host genotypes can be combined with microbial DNA sequencing to predict performance traits or traits related to environmental impact, such as enteric methane emissions. Metagenome profiles were generated from 3139 rumen samples, collected from 1200 dual purpose ewes, using restriction enzyme-reduced representation sequencing (RE-RRS). Phenotypes were available for methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the ratio of CH4 to CH4 plus CO2 (CH4Ratio), feed efficiency (residual feed intake: RFI), liveweight at the time of methane collection (LW), liveweight at 8 months (LW8), fleece weight at 12 months (FW12) a

SUBMITTER: Hess MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10367317 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature