DECIPHERING THE ROLE OF INDIVIDUAL METHANOGENS AND THEIR INHIBITION ON HYDROGEN METABOLISM IN THE RUMEN OF DAIRY COWS

The overall goal of this project is to determine how methanogenesis can be effectively mitigated such that alternate pathways of fermentation are triggered to increase energy efficiency and ultimately improve rumen function and production responses in dairy cows. Specific objectives are:Objective 1: Decipher and quantify the contributions of individual methanogens to total CH4 formation using a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments.Objective 2: Determine the fate of H2 under CH4 inhibition in the rumen of dairy cows with different CH4 yield phenotypes with and without AT supplementation.Objective 3: Determine the mechanisms by which butyrate production is increased in H2-producing rumen bacteria in the rumen when methanogenesis is inhibited.