Improving rumen function

1.Colonization and establishment of the rumen microbiota – opportunities to influence productivity and methane emissions;

Part 1 Tools to understand the ruminal microbiome
2.A question of culture: bringing the gut microbiome to life in the -omics era;
3.Rumen metabolomics – a powerful tool for discovery and understanding of rumen functionality and health;
4.A conceptual approach to the mathematical modelling of microbial functionality in the rumen;

Part 2 The rumen microbiota
5.Genome sequencing and the rumen microbiome;
6.The Rumen Archaea;
7.Ruminal-ciliated protozoa;
8.The anaerobic rumen fungi;
9.Ruminal viruses and extrachromosomal genetic elements;
10.The rumen wall microbiota community;

Part 3 Nutrient processing in the rumen and host interactions
11.Ruminal fibre digestion;
12.Ruminal protein breakdown and ammonia assimilation;
13.Factors influencing the efficiency of rumen energy metabolism;
14.Understanding rumen lipid metabolism to optimize dairy products for enhanced human health and to monitor animal health;
15.Nutritional factors affecting greenhouse gas production from ruminants: implications for enteric and manure emissions;
16.Host-rumen microbiome interactions and influences on feed conversion efficiency (FCE), methane production and other productivity traits;
17.The rumen as a modulator of immune function in cattle;

Part 4 Nutritional strategies to optimise ruminal function
18.Role of the rumen microbiome in pasture-fed ruminant production systems;
19.Optimising ruminal function: the role of silage and concentrate in dairy cow nutrition to improve feed efficiency and reduce methane and nitrogen emissions;
20.The use of feedlot/cereal grains in improving feed efficiency and reducing by-products such as methane in ruminants;
21.Plant secondary compounds: beneficial roles in sustainable ruminant nutrition and productivity;
22.The use of probiotics as supplements for ruminants;