Improving rumen function

1.Colonization and establishment of the rumen microbiota – opportunities to influence productivity and methane emissions: Diego P. Morgavi and Milka Popova, INRAE, France; David Yañez-Ruiz, CSIC, Spain; and Evelyne Forano, INRAE, France;

Part 1 Tools to understand the ruminal microbiome
2.A question of culture: bringing the gut microbiome to life in the -omics era: Páraic Ó Cuív, Microba Life Sciences and Mater Research Institute – The University of Queensland, Australia;
3.Rumen metabolomics – a powerful tool for discovery and understanding of rumen functionality and health: Tom F. O’Callaghan, Teagasc Moorepark Food Research, Ireland; and Eva Lewis, Devenish, UK;
4.A conceptual approach to the mathematical modelling of microbial functionality in the rumen: André Bannink, Soumya Kar, Dirkjan Schokker and Jan Dijkstra, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands;

Part 2 The rumen microbiota
5.Genome sequencing and the rumen microbiome: Jessica C. A. Friedersdorff and Benjamin J. Thomas, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science (IBERS), Aberystwyth University and Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen’s University Belfast, UK; Sara E. Pidcock, Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen’s University Belfast, UK; Elizabeth H. Hart, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, UK; Francesco Rubino and Christopher J. Creevey, Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen’s University Belfast, UK;
6.The Rumen Archaea: Graeme T. Attwood and Sinead C. Leahy, AgResearch Ltd and New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, New Zealand; and William J. Kelly, Donvis Ltd, New Zealand;
7.Ruminal-ciliated protozoa: Sharon A. Huws, Queen’s University Belfast, UK; Cate L. Williams, Aberystwyth University, UK; and Neil R. McEwan, Robert Gordon University, UK;
8.The anaerobic rumen fungi: Matthias Hess, University of California-Davis, USA; Katerina Fliegerová, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Republic; Shyam Paul, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Directorate of Poultry Research, India; and Anil Kumar Puniya, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, National Dairy Research Institute, India;
9.Ruminal viruses and extrachromosomal genetic elements: Rosalind Ann Gilbert and Diane Ouwerkerk, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government and Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Australia;
10.The rumen wall microbiota community: Mi Zhou, University of Alberta, Canada; Junhua Liu, Nanjing Agricultural University, China; and Le Luo Guan, University of Alberta, Canada;

Part 3 Nutrient processing in the rumen and host interactions
11.Ruminal fibre digestion: Adrian E. Naas and Phillip B. Pope, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway;
12.Ruminal protein breakdown and ammonia assimilation: Jeffrey L. Firkins, The Ohio State University, USA; and Roderick I. Mackie, University of Illinois, USA;
13.Factors influencing the efficiency of rumen energy metabolism: Emilio M. Ungerfeld, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Chile; and Timothy J. Hackmann, University of California-Davis, USA;
14.Understanding rumen lipid metabolism to optimize dairy products for enhanced human health and to monitor animal health: Veerle Fievez, Nympha De Neve and Lore Dewanckele, Ghent University, Belgium;
15.Nutritional factors affecting greenhouse gas production from ruminants: implications for enteric and manure emissions: Stephanie A. Terry, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada and University of Sydney, Australia; Carlos M. Romero, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and University of Lethbridge, Canada; and Alex V. Chaves and Tim A. McAllister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada;
16.Host-rumen microbiome interactions and influences on feed conversion efficiency (FCE), methane production and other productivity traits: Elie Jami, Agricultural Research Organization – Volcani Center, Israel; and Itzhak Mizrahi, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel;
17.The rumen as a modulator of immune function in cattle: S. Aditya, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria and Brawijaya University, Indonesia; and E. Humer and Q. Zebeli, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria;

Part 4 Nutritional strategies to optimise ruminal function
18.Role of the rumen microbiome in pasture-fed ruminant production systems: Sinéad M. Waters, David A. Kenny, Teagasc Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Ireland; and Paul E. Smith, Teagasc Animal and Bioscience Research Department and UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Ireland;
19.Optimising ruminal function: the role of silage and concentrate in dairy cow nutrition to improve feed efficiency and reduce methane and nitrogen emissions: Aila Vanhatalo and Anni Halmemies-Beauchet-Filleau, University of Helsinki, Finland;
20.The use of feedlot/cereal grains in improving feed efficiency and reducing by-products such as methane in ruminants: Kristin Hales, US Meat Animal Research Center – USDA-ARS, USA; Jeferson Lourenco, Darren S. Seidel, Osman Yasir Koyun, Dylan Davis and Christina Welch, University of Georgia, USA; James E. Wells, US Meat Animal Research Center – USDA-ARS, USA; and Todd R. Callaway, University of Georgia, USA;
21.Plant secondary compounds: beneficial roles in sustainable ruminant nutrition and productivity: David R. Yáñez-Ruiz and Alejandro Belanche, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, Spain;
22.The use of probiotics as supplements for ruminants: Frédérique Chaucheyras-Durand and Lysiane Dunière, Lallemand Animal Nutrition and Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UMR 454 MEDIS, France;

"An up-to-date reference text on the ruminal microbiota and its function is long overdue. The proposed volume will fill the gap admirably."
Emeritus Professor John Wallace, University of Aberdeen, UK