Unravelling the Unknown of the Rumen Microbiome: Implications for Animal Health, Productivity, and Beyond

The rumen, a complex fermentation chamber within the digestive system of ruminant animals, serves as a symbiotic habitat for a myriad of microorganisms collectively known as the rumen microbiota. This intricate microbial community plays a pivotal role in the digestion and fermentation of ingested plant materials, converting them into nutrients for the host. The significance of the rumen microbiota extends far beyond its role in nutrient metabolism; it profoundly influences animal health, productivity, and has broader implications for sustainable agriculture. Despite the recognized importance of the rumen microbiota, many aspects of its composition, dynamics, and functional diversity remain elusive. Recent advances in high-throughput omics technologies have opened new avenues for unraveling the complexities of microbial communities/functions, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of the rumen microbiota. This research aims to bridge existing knowledge gaps by comprehensively understanding the composition and function of the rumen microbiota and exploring the far-reaching implications of this intricate symbiosis.

This research topic aims to decipher the specific roles played by different microbial taxa in nutrient metabolism and fermentation processes within the rumen. Additionally, it will explore how the rumen microbiota influences the overall health and well-being of the host, impacting factors such as immune function, disease resistance, growth performance, or milk yield. Furthermore, this research will investigate the potential for manipulating the rumen microbiota to enhance animal productivity, optimize the use of agro-industrial by-products, improve feed efficiency, and mitigate environmental impacts, particularly in the context of greenhouse gas emissions.

To gather further insights into the complexities of the rumen microbiota, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Strategies to optimize rumen microbial fermentation
- Effects of bioactive compounds on rumen microbiota, productivity, and health
- Early-life nutritional interventions to modulate the rumen microbiota
- Use of agro-industrial by-products and novel feeds in ruminant nutrition
- Rumen methanogenesis
- Probiotics and prebiotics interventions

This research topic would greatly benefit from a multidisciplinary approach that integrates omics-based techniques for characterizing the gut microbial community with applied sciences aimed at developing innovative nutritional strategies. We encourage the inclusion of both in vitro and in vivo studies to unveil the mode of action as well as to generate future research hypotheses.