RUMEN MICROBIOLOGY FROM A METAGENOMIC PERSPECTIVE: A REVIEW OF NEW FINDINGS AND TRENDS

Abstract

Rumen microbiology studies the microorganisms present in the rumen, the compartment of the ruminant stomach responsible for the fermentation of food. These microorganisms, which include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and archaea, play a crucial role in the digestion of cellulose and other complex carbohydrates, allowing ruminants to take advantage of nutrients from fibrous plants. Traditionally, the study of the rumen microbiota was based on in vitro culture techniques, limited to organisms that could be grown in the laboratory. However, advances in metagenomics (an approach that allows for the direct analysis of microbial DNA from environmental samples, without the need for cultivation) have revolutionized the field. With metagenomics, scientists can identify and characterize all microbial diversity present in the rumen, including previously unknown or non-cultivable organisms. This method has revealed a much more complex and diverse microbiota than previously thought, offering new insights into microbial functions, interactions between species, and their influence on ruminant health and productivity. This new knowledge is key to improving feed efficiency, reducing the production of methane (a potent greenhouse gas), and developing more precise nutritional and therapeutic strategies for ruminant management. Metagenomics, therefore, is driving a new era in rumen microbiology, with the potential to transform animal production sustainably and efficiently.