Enriched metagenomic sequence data from bovine rumen microbiome

Many surveys continue to be undertaken with the aim of cataloguing the key microbes responsible formethane production in livestock (“who’s there?”), but these studies have been unable to providefunctional information to describe their behaviour in the rumen (“what are they doing?”). By recovering, examining and comparing the metagenomes of rumen methanogens from Australian production systems, we have been able to reveal mechanisms that are critical for their persistence in vivo. This information has filled a significant research gap and can now be translated into a precise focus (rather than an empirical “shotgun” approach) for development of targeted approaches for inhibition of methanogenesis in ruminants. This research was funded by the National Livestock Methane Program.