Defining new phenotypes for forage and crop by-products improvement based on rumen function and greenhouse gas emissions

Livestock are a fast-growing, high-value agricultural subsector accounting for 15–80% of GDP in low- and middle-income countries. In Africa and Asia, demand for livestock products is expected to grow 200% by 2030.
Ruminants can use feed substrates such as crop residues and forages not otherwise nutritionally available to humans. However, such systems are associated with higher levels of GHG emissions and low productivity, particularly in the global south.

There is significant literature that identifies rumen utilisation as the key to efficient use of forages and by-products whilst minimising GHG emissions. Whilst it is possible to measure such properties, the lack of high throughput techniques has limited their use as effective phenotyping to improve plant breeding targets. Here we will develop and verify new high throughput screens to define new phenotypes for forage and crop residue improvement based on rumen function and greenhouse gas emissions.