The objective of this study was to determine the changes in the rumen microbiota in response to adding nitrate to diets with different concentrate to forage ratios and explore potential links with CH4 emissions.. Changes in the rumen microbiota in response to adding nitrate to diets

Ruminants are the main anthropogenic source of methane (CH4) that enters the atmosphere.Understanding the mechanisms of methanogenesis and the microorganisms involved is therefore important for developing effective strategies to mitigate enteric CH4 production. Knowledge about rumen microbiology has increased in recent years due to molecular techniques, such as next-generation sequencing.By suppyling substrates for methanogenesis, principally H2, rumen bacteria produce and thereby contribute indirectly to CH4 production.Among nutritional options for reducing enteric CH4 emissions, nitrate has been identified as promising. Community profiling of rumen microbiota from animals fed different diets with the addition of nitrate could highlight the microbial species involved in nitrate reduction, help to understand methanogenesis and the potential toxicity of nitrate to ruminants.