Effects of feed additives on the rumen microbiome composition and function using a long-term rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC)

The RUmen SImulation TEChnique (RUSITEC) was designed as an in vitro model to study ruminant livestock fermentation and rumen function for extended periods of time making it an ideal platform to identify promising feed additives for mitigating methane (CH₄) emission from enteric fermentation. Importantly, the RUSITEC allows to screen feed additive candidates and to identify the most promising feed additive prior to conducting any in situ experiment. 

Ruminant livestock is the main source of anthropogenic methane, a gas that has a 21-fold higher greenhouse gas potential than carbon dioxide (CO₂), and reducing the production of CH₄ from ruminants through feed additives is a promising strategy to reduce global methane emission.

Here we will present the effect of various chemical and natural compounds on the rumen microbiome and the rumen function. In particularly we will present 16S rRNA gene profiles as well as volatile fatty acids and CO₂, CH₄ and hydrogen gas profiles during the degradation of commonly used dairy feedstuff as measured using the RUSITEC system.