Rumen microbiome of Bonsmara cattle

The diversity and composition of the rumen microbiome determines the efficiency of the ruminant as the microbes produce approximately 70% of the energy available to the animal in the form of volatile fatty acids. In South Africa, monensin is typically used to increase the production and efficiency of the animals in feedlots. However, due to consumer pressure and the European Union ban on the use of antibiotics in food producing animals, alternatives need to be investigated. The use of essential oils and probiotics as growth enhancers might be viable alternatives. This study investigates the shift in the rumen microbiome composition (bacterial and fungal) through a feedlot period and is the first rumen metagenomic study on Bonsmara cattle. The aim of this study is to use a nutrigenomics approach to investigate the rumen microbiome and the effects of different feed additives, including ionophore, probiotic and essential oils, on the rumen microbiome of Bonsmara cattle in a feedlot trial.