TY - JOUR
T1 - Review: Markers and proxies to monitor ruminal function and feed efficiency in young ruminants
AU - Cheng, Long
AU - Cantalapiedra-Hijar, Gonzalo
AU - Meale, Sarah
AU - Rugoho, Innocent
AU - Jonker, Arjan
AU - Khan, M.A.
AU - Al-Marashdeh, Omar
AU - Dewhurst, RJ
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Developing the rumen's capacity to utilise recalcitrant and low-value feed resources is important for ruminant production systems. Early-life nutrition and management practices have been shown to influence development of the rumen in young animals with long-term consequences on their performance. Therefore, there has been increasing interest to understand ruminal development and function in young ruminants to improve feed efficiency, health, welfare, and performance of both young and adult ruminants. However, due to the small size, rapid morphological changes and low initial microbial populations of the rumen, it is difficult to study ruminal function in young ruminants without major invasive approaches or slaughter studies. In this review, we discuss the usefulness of a range of proxies and markers to monitor ruminal function and nitrogen use efficiency (a major part of feed efficiency) in young ruminants. Breath sulphide and methane emissions showed the greatest potential as simple markers of a developing microbiota in young ruminants. However, there is only limited evidence for robust indicators of feed efficiency at this stage. The use of nitrogen isotopic discrimination based on plasma samples appeared to be the most promising proxy for feed efficiency in young ruminants. More research is needed to explore and refine potential proxies and markers to indicate ruminal function and feed efficiency in young ruminants, particularly for neonatal ruminants.
AB - Developing the rumen's capacity to utilise recalcitrant and low-value feed resources is important for ruminant production systems. Early-life nutrition and management practices have been shown to influence development of the rumen in young animals with long-term consequences on their performance. Therefore, there has been increasing interest to understand ruminal development and function in young ruminants to improve feed efficiency, health, welfare, and performance of both young and adult ruminants. However, due to the small size, rapid morphological changes and low initial microbial populations of the rumen, it is difficult to study ruminal function in young ruminants without major invasive approaches or slaughter studies. In this review, we discuss the usefulness of a range of proxies and markers to monitor ruminal function and nitrogen use efficiency (a major part of feed efficiency) in young ruminants. Breath sulphide and methane emissions showed the greatest potential as simple markers of a developing microbiota in young ruminants. However, there is only limited evidence for robust indicators of feed efficiency at this stage. The use of nitrogen isotopic discrimination based on plasma samples appeared to be the most promising proxy for feed efficiency in young ruminants. More research is needed to explore and refine potential proxies and markers to indicate ruminal function and feed efficiency in young ruminants, particularly for neonatal ruminants.
KW - body measures
KW - breath sulphide and methane
KW - faecal lipids
KW - nitrogen isotopes
KW - purine derivatives
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115031117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100337
DO - 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100337
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34537442
SN - 1751-7311
VL - 15
JO - Animal
JF - Animal
IS - 10
M1 - 100337
ER -