Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Rainer Roehe is Professor of Animal Genetics and Microbiome at Scotland’s Rural College. His overall research aim is to get insight into the microbiome in the rumen (the first of cow’s four stomachs), its effects on performance of bovine and its interactions with the host genome. Specifically, he is interested in understanding the functional genetics and pathways of the rumen microbiome and microbial genes associated with performance traits in bovine. His research is involved in the identification of quantitative genetic and genomic links between the host animal and rumen microbial community as well as microbial genes to be exploited for mitigation of methane emissions and improvement of feed conversion efficiency, meat quality, animal health, behavioural and welfare traits in ruminants. He is elucidating the symbiotic interactions between rumen microbiome and host considered as single ecological unit – the ‘holobiont’ using different –omics technologies. His collaborative teams have successfully applying bioinformatics on whole metagenome sequencing data to reveal metagenome-assembled genomes of rumen microbial species never being sequenced before. His publication entitled ‘Bovine host genetic variation influences rumen microbial methane production with best selection criterion for low methane emitting and efficiently feed converting hosts based on metagenomic gene abundance‘ was awarded the PLOS Genetics Research Prize 2017 based on scientific excellence and community impact. In addition, his team’s host genetics-microbiome research has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Honours Award 2018 in the category Research Project of the Year: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
Research interests
My overall research interest is to unravel the host animal genomic architecture affecting complex performance traits in livestock. At present my main research interest is to reveal the influence of the gut microbiome on methane emissions, feed conversion efficiency, meat quality, animal health and behavioural traits, and how the host animal shapes the microbiome associated with those traits. In this research, whole-metagenome-sequencing is used to determine microbial community profiles as well as microbial gene abundances in order to understand the complex genetic and functional interactions between host genomics, microbiome and phenotypic traits. The comprehensive insight into these interactions will be used to develop novel cost-effective selection strategies exploiting microbiome information in animal breeding.
Current research interests
- Understanding the functional genetics and pathways of the rumen microbiome and microbial genes associated with performance traits of animals.
- Identification of quantitative genetic and genomic links between the host animal and rumen microbial community as well as microbial genes to be exploited for mitigation of methane emissions and improvement of feed conversion efficiency, meat quality, animal health, behavioural and welfare traits in ruminants.
- Impact of nutrition on reduction in methane emissions and their effects on the composition of the rumen microbial community and on meat quality characteristics in beef.
- Elucidating the impact of stress on the intestinal microbiota and its use as biomarker for pig wellness and performance.
- Development of prediction equations for online measurement techniques to assess carcass, meat eating and nutritional quality in beef and sheep using imaging techniques.
- Genetic improvement of meat quality traits in beef with particular interest in genetic improvement of fatty acids such as omega-3 fatty acids, reported to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Genetic and genomic background of energy and nitrogen efficiency in pigs to develop strategies for improvement of energy and nitrogen efficiency during growth.
- Understanding the genetic background and genomic architecture of pig welfare traits such as piglet survival, aggression and related traits such as feed intake behaviour as well as the development of new selection strategies using e.g. canalised selection.
- Research on the most appropriate statistical methodology to predict the genomic background of complex traits, e.g. the predictability of Bayesian mixture models to estimate the entire genomic background and to identify QTLs of complex traits.
Teaching
- Course Leader and Lecturer BSc Animal Breeding and Genetics, SRUC.
- Course Leader and Lecturer MSc Animal Genetic Improvement Module, University of Edinburgh.
- Lecturer MSc Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare, University of Edinburgh.
Projects
Current:
• 2021-2024: BBSRC Genus plc ‘Operationalising social competence and estimating its genetic and genomic basis to improve the welfare of pigs’. Turner, Roehe (Co-I) (£455K, 3 years)
• 2021-2026: European Commission (Horizon 2020) ‘Understanding microbiomes of the ruminant holobiont’. Dewhurst, Roehe (Co-I) (€759K, 5 years)
• 2020-2024: Novo Nordisk Foundation ‘Sustainable production of animals by optimizing the feed-microbiome-host axis’. Pope, Roehe (Co-I) (€300K, 5 years)
• 2019-2022: BBSRC Genus plc ‘Elucidating bovine host genomic links with rumen microbial genes to improve sustainably feed conversion efficiency using unique selection criteria’. Roehe (PI) (£795K, 3 years)
Previous (selected):
• 2017-2018: Zoetis Belgium SA ‘The use of intestinal microbiota as a biomarker for swine wellness and performance’. Roehe (PI) (£110K, 2 years)
• 2016-2019: BBSRC ‘Understanding the functional and genomic architecture of the rumen microbiome affecting performance traits in bovines’. Roehe (PI) (£382K, 3 years)
• 2016-2019: Innovate UK ‘Solutions for sustainable lamb production and breeding for more taste and less waste to increase food security in the UK and beyond’. Bunger, Roehe (Co I) (£710K, 5 years)
• 2012-2015: EBLEX (UK) ‘Nutritional improvements using diets and novel feed additives to enhance overall efficiency of beef production including meat quality and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions as identified by characterisation of the rumen microbial population’. Roehe (PI) (£247K, 5 years)
• 2011-2015: BBSRC Genus plc ‘Genomic and environmental dissection of social aggressiveness and feeding behaviour in pigs’. Roehe (PI) (£122K, 3 years)
Supervision
• PhD student (2018-2022) ‘Development of an integrated metagenomic analysis system using the microbial community, their genes and biological mechanisms to predict cattle phenotypes ‘, joint with University of Ulster
• PhD student (2018-202) ‘Precision breeding for piglet survival and the use of microbiome information to improve wellness in pigs‘, joint with University of Edinburgh
• PhD student (2017-2021) ‘The use of networks of rumen microbial genes associated with performance traits for precision breeding and nutrition in beef cattle‘, joint with University of Edinburgh
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Development of optimal selection strategies when using an animal model in the nucleus of swine breeding programs, Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel
Award Date: 15 Nov 1990
Master, Effects of inbreeding on milk production and reproduction traits in Angler and Holsteins of Schleswig-Holstein, Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel
Award Date: 4 Nov 1986
Bachelor, Genetic effects associated with the development of bovine mastitis and their usefulness for breeding, University of Kassel
Award Date: 27 Jun 1983
External positions
Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel
1999 → 2004
Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel
1994 → 1999
Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph
1991 → 1993
Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel
1987 → 1990
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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UltraGreenCow: Comprehensive greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions measurement capacity for large ruminant production
Miller, G. (CoPI), Roehe, R. (PI), Conington, J. (CoI) & Duthie, C.-A. (CoI)
1/08/24 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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Climate Smart Beef Genetics - Innovative approaches to the reduce environmental impact of the UK beef supply chain
Roehe, R. (PI)
1/02/23 → 31/01/27
Project: Research
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RESAS 22-27: SRUC-c2-1 Agriculture Climate And Carbon
Rees, B. (PI), Roehe, R. (CoI), Duthie, C.-A. (CoI), Jones, S. (CoI), Eory, V. (CoI), Buckingham, S. (CoI), March, M. (CoI), Hargreaves, P. (CoI), Topp, K. (CoI), Holland, J. (CoI), Miller, G. (CoI), Houdijk, J. (CoI), Newbold, J. (CoI), MacLeod, M. (CoI) & Bell, J. (CoI)
Scottish Government: Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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HoloRuminant: Understanding microbiomes of the ruminant holobiont.
Dewhurst, R. (PI), Ferguson, H. (CoI), Roehe, R. (CoI), Newbold, J. (CoI) & Cook, R. (PhD Student)
1/04/21 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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SuPacow
Roehe, R. (PI), Nicoll, L. (CoI), Duthie, C.-A. (CoI), Broadbent, C. (CoI) & Miller, G. (CoI)
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
1/01/20 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Including microbiome information in a multi-trait genomic evaluation: a case study on longitudinal growth performance in beef cattle
Martínez-Álvaro, M., Mattock, J., González-Recio, Ó., Saborío-Montero, A., Weng, Z., Lima, J., Duthie, C.-A., Dewhurst, R., Cleveland, M. A., Watson, M. & Roehe, R., 15 Mar 2024, (First published) In: Genetics Selection Evolution. 56, 1, 16 p., 19.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)13 Downloads (Pure) -
119. Genetic parameters of novel behaviour traits derived from social network analysis in pigs
Agha, S., Foister, S., Roehe, R., Turner, S. P. & Doeschl-Wilson, A., 9 Feb 2023, (First published) Proceedings of 12th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (WCGALP): Technical and species orientated innovations in animal breeding, and contribution of genetics to solving societal challenges. Wageningen Academic Publishers, p. 524-527Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Open AccessFile30 Downloads (Pure) -
Breeding for pig welfare: Opportunities and challenges
Turner, S., Camerlink, I., Baxter, E., D'Eath, R., Desire, S. & Roehe, R., 6 Oct 2023, (First published) Advances in Pig Welfare. Woodhead Publishing, p. 429-447 19 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Different microbial genera drive methane emissions in beef cattle fed with two extreme diets
Miller, G. A., Auffret, M., Roehe, R., Nisbet, H. & Martinez Alvaro, M., 13 Apr 2023, (First published) In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 14, 1102400.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)42 Downloads (Pure) -
Estimating microbial protein synthesis in the rumen – can ‘omics’ methods provide new insights into a long-standing question?
Patricia Do Jardim Goncalves Lima, J., Ingabire, W., Roehe, R. & Dewhurst, R., 27 Nov 2023, In: Veterinary Sciences. 10, 12, 679.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Citations (Scopus)38 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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KOunt.v1.1.0.tar.gz
Mattock, J. (Creator), Martínez-Álvaro, M. (Creator), Roehe, R. (Creator) & Watson, M. (Creator), Figshare, 2023
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.22250662.v1, https://figshare.com/articles/software/KOunt_v1_1_0_tar_gz/22250662/1
Dataset
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Additional file 2 of Microbiome-driven breeding strategy potentially improves beef fatty acid profile benefiting human health and reduces methane emissions
Martínez-Álvaro, M. (Creator), Mattock, J. (Creator), Auffret, M. (Creator), Weng, Z. (Creator), Duthie, C.-A. (Creator), Dewhurst, R. J. (Creator), Cleveland, M. A. (Creator), Watson, M. (Creator) & Roehe, R. (Creator), Figshare, 2022
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.21285707.v1, https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Additional_file_2_of_Microbiome-driven_breeding_strategy_potentially_improves_beef_fatty_acid_profile_benefiting_human_health_and_reduces_methane_emissions/21285707/1
Dataset
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KOunt_databases_v1.tar
Mattock, J. (Creator), Martínez-Álvaro, M. (Creator), Roehe, R. (Creator) & Watson, M. (Creator), Figshare, 2022
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.21269715, https://figshare.com/articles/online_resource/KOunt_databases_v1_tar/21269715 and one more link, https://figshare.com/articles/online_resource/KOunt_databases_v1_tar/21269715/1 (show fewer)
Dataset
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KOunt.v1.2.0.zip
Mattock, J. (Creator), Watson, M. (Creator), Roehe, R. (Creator), Martínez-Álvaro, M. (Creator) & Cleveland, M. A. (Creator), Figshare, 2023
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.23607834, https://figshare.com/articles/software/KOunt_v1_2_0_zip/23607834
Dataset
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Livestock Science (Journal)
Roehe, R. (Reviewer)
2015 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication Peer-review
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Course Leader for the MSc Animal Genetic Improvement course at the University of Edinburgh and for the BSc Animal Breeding and Genetics course at SRUC
Roehe, R. (Participant)
1 Jan 2010 → …Activity: Other activity types › Other
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Use of cutting-edge bioinformatics procedures
Roehe, R. (Participant)
1 Jan 2010 → …Activity: Other activity types › Other
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Animal Breeding anf Genetics Program (ABGP) of the Agrifood Research and Technology Institute (IRTA (External organisation)
Roehe, R. (Member)
10 Jul 2010 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership of panel
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Assessment of grant applications for various national and international funders
Roehe, R. (Participant)
1 Jan 2010 → …Activity: Other activity types › Other