Understanding ruminant microbiomes to improve animal health, productivity, and the environmental sustainability of agriculture

November 12, 2025

Organized in collaboration with

Phytobiomes Alliance Animal Microbiomes Working Group

Location

Online

Presenters

  • Sinead Waters, University of Galway, Ireland
  • David Yáñez-Ruiz, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain

Outline

Microbiomes play critical roles in sustainable agriculture and food security, particularly influencing ruminant health, productivity, nutrition and the environment.

In this webinar we will outline some key ruminant microbiomes, their interactions with the host animals and their relationships with key animal production and environmental traits.

Understanding the rumen microbiome and its potential manipulation to enhance nutrient utilization from feed and reduce enteric methane emissions through feed additives and breeding strategies is a major international research focus.

Our research in the area of animal health investigates the host-gene expression and multi-site microbiome responses to diseases in calfhood such as bovine respiratory disease and diarrhea.

We will discuss exciting results from our research projects funded nationally and by EU Horizon program including HoloRuminant, MASTER, Meth-Abate, Re-Livestock and RumenEarly.