Ruminosignatures associated with methane emissions and feed efficiency across geographies and cattle breeds.

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Microbiology
• Genetics

Background:

• The cattle rumen microbiome is crucial for host health, productivity, and environmental impact.
• Understanding rumen microbial communities and their link to host traits is vital for sustainable agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize microbial co-abundance groups (Ruminosignatures) in the cattle rumen.
• To investigate the association of Ruminosignatures with host phenotypes, including methane emissions and feed efficiency.
• To explore the host genetic control and potential for microbiome-informed breeding strategies.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of rumen microbiota profiles from 2,496 cattle across five breeds, production systems, and countries.
• Identification of microbial co-abundance groups (Ruminosignatures) using statistical analyses.
• Integrative cross-country analysis, structural equation modelling, and meta-analysis to assess associations with host traits and genetic parameters.

Main Results:

• Fourteen distinct Ruminosignatures were identified, with two dominated by Prevotella and UBA2810 consistently observed.
• Ruminosignatures explained 96-99% of variance in rumen microbial composition and showed breed- and diet-specific patterns.
• The UBA2810-dominated Ruminosignature (RS_UBA2) showed negative genetic and phenotypic correlations with methane emissions and positive associations with average daily gain and feed conversion ratio.

Conclusions:

• The Ruminosignatures framework provides a robust tool for understanding cattle rumen microbiome organization.
• RS_UBA2 presents a promising target for breeding programs aiming to reduce methane emissions and enhance feed efficiency in cattle.
• Context-specific strategies are important for microbiome modulation, highlighting the potential for sustainable cattle production.