Post-harvest changes in ingested forage
Lead Research Organisation:
Aberystwyth University
Department Name: IBERS
Abstract
This sub-programme investigates how forage chemistry and post-harvest changes of fresh forage affect ruminal fermentation, and the extent of genetic control. Transcriptomic and proteomic approaches together with bio-imaging and unbiased and targeted metabolite analyses of established in vitro and in sacco experimentation will be used to identify the key plant-based traits that can influence the rumen systems model. Candidate post-harvest responses for targetted analysis include control of plant-mediated proteolysis during rumen-induced plant cell death, microbial molecular pattern recognition, drought/ flooding responses and wound responses. Appropriate germplasm will be sourced and used in functional hypothesis testing. Forage characterisation will be performed by use of chemometrics (FTIR, Micro RAMAN, GC-MS, LC-MS) with multivariate data analysis to understand inputs delivered by the feed and the extent of its genetic control. High throughput screens under development will enable assessment of methanogenic properties of large numbers of forage genotypes. This will exploit the extensive genetic resources at IBERS, for example, ~14,000 populations of the forage grass Lolium perenne. The combination of high throughput screening and genetic variation of defined pedigree presents the opportunity to develop and use machine learning approaches such as genetic algorithms (GA) to streamline screening and selection by operating a virtual evolution.
Publications
A Huws S
(2014)
Differential Colonization of Plant Parts by the Rumen Microbiota is likely to be due to Different Forage Chemistries
in Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology
Abecia L
(2014)
An antimethanogenic nutritional intervention in early life of ruminants modifies ruminal colonization by Archaea.
in Archaea (Vancouver, B.C.)
Abecia L
(2014)
Feeding management in early life influences microbial colonisation and fermentation in the rumen of newborn goat kids
in Animal Production Science
Alcaide M
(2012)
Gene sets for utilization of primary and secondary nutrition supplies in the distal gut of endangered Iberian lynx.
in PloS one
Ann Huws S
(2012)
Effects of feeding Mediterranean buffalo sorghum silage versus maize silage on the rumen microbiota and milk fatty acid content.
in The Journal of general and applied microbiology
Belanche A
(2012)
Effect of diet and absence of protozoa on the rumen microbial community and on the representativeness of bacterial fractions used in the determination of microbial protein synthesis.
in Journal of animal science
Belanche A
(2013)
Comparison of ryegrass and red clover on the fermentation pattern, microbial community and efficiency of diet utilisation in the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec)
in Animal Production Science
Belanche A
(2014)
Study of methanogen communities associated with different rumen protozoal populations.
in FEMS microbiology ecology
Belanche A
(2013)
Estimation of feed crude protein concentration and rumen degradability by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
in Journal of dairy science
Belanche A
(2016)
An Integrated Multi-Omics Approach Reveals the Effects of Supplementing Grass or Grass Hay with Vitamin E on the Rumen Microbiome and Its Function.
in Frontiers in microbiology
| Description | 1. This work has lead to an increased understanding of control of plant metabolism in ingested forage. We have demonstrated similarities in post-harvest plant cellular response with systems known to be involved in stress tolerance and pathogen resistance in the field. These responses, and more recently exposure to stress events prior to ingestion have been shown by metabolomic and proteomic techniques to alter the functioning of the rumen microbial population. 2. Specific attention has been given to understanding the plant's role in delivery improved protein supply. We have used proteomics to identify specific protein targets for rapid proteolysis which is key to this inefficiency. These are largely chloroplast located and have in consequence identified the potential for the polyphenol oxidase enzyme to protect through phenolic complexing. We have extended studies with Festulolium grass hybrids to use a continuous flow rumen simulator (animal mimic system) to confirm indications from previous in vitro studies that whole genome hybrids can deliver better protein supply kinetics than a standard ryegrass sward. This has been published. |
| Exploitation Route | The aim of this work was to identify traits that to be taken forward by breeders for improved animal efficiency. We have shown that changes in forage genotype leading to subtle changes in phenotype can have significant implications for ruminal fermentation. The correspondence of response to systems where there is much existing work (eg pathogenesis) opens up potential for further research to exploit synteny with known genetic mechanisms in improved forage germplasm. The potential for development of festulolium hybrids in the context of an improved forage for grazing should next be established in a grazing trial. After this social and economic impact could be realised in a relatively short time. Hybrids are commercially available (eg AberNiche) and exisiting links with Germinal Holdings would facilitate up-scaling and commercialisation. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Description | Findings have been used in outreach activities at Royal Welsh Show and School Science Week to engage with farming community, general public and children. This involved hands-on experiences including viewing rumen micro-organisms under microscope and extracting DNA. Our research is also contributing to discussions as part of networks in South America and Africa in relation to sustainability and food security (via GCRF-IAA #BB/GCRF-IAA/09). This has raised awareness of our plant improvement activities to in-country organisations that can disseminate information to the appropriate communities for uptake of either materials or practice as required and appropriate. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Chair in Rumen Systems Biology |
| Amount | £600,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2013 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | Climate KIC RuMeClean |
| Amount | £218,042 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BioHorizons |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2014 |
| End | 12/2015 |
| Description | DCDS postgraduate studentship Stephen Wanjiru |
| Amount | £79,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2014 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | Doctoral Career Development Scholarship |
| Amount | £68,889 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2014 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | FACCEJPI Rumenstability |
| Amount | £25,200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 02/2014 |
| End | 01/2017 |
| Description | Future forages: Implications of forage response to climate change for ruminant production |
| Amount | £474,783 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R019185/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2018 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | GCRF-IAA |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/GCRF-IAA/09 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Global Challenges Research Fund Data and Resources |
| Amount | £942,900 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2016 |
| End | 07/2017 |
| Description | International Partnering Award Brazil |
| Amount | £41,531 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/L026716/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2014 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | KESS studentship |
| Amount | £56,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Social Fund (Welsh Government/ EU) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2016 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | NERC-SARIC translation |
| Amount | £197,442 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/P007996/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 07/2018 |
| Description | NRN LCEE Cluster |
| Amount | £435,721 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment (NRN-LCEE) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2015 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | NRN antimicrobials from bovine metagenomes |
| Amount | £49,970 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Research Network, Life Sciences and Health |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2014 |
| End | 09/2015 |
| Description | SARIC Club Translation Award |
| Amount | £248,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/P007996/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | Seeding Catalyst Award |
| Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/SCA/IBERS/17 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 02/2018 |
| Description | TSB beef supply chain |
| Amount | £386,672 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 101407 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2013 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Description | Teagasc ruminant methane |
| Amount | £72,728 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Teagasc |
| Department | Teagasc Food Research Centre |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Ireland |
| Start | 01/2014 |
| End | 01/2018 |
| Description | WG Land use review |
| Amount | £13,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Welsh Assembly |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2014 |
| End | 07/2014 |
| Description | BBSRC UK-Brazil Partnering Award |
| Organisation | Federal University of Minas Gerais |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Members of research team have travelled to Brazil to share knowledge of characterising and exploiting novel antimicrobials within the rumen microbiola |
| Collaborator Contribution | Members of the receiving organisation in Brazil hosted the visit and shared in their understanding of exploiting novel antimicrobials within the rumen microbiola |
| Impact | Knowledge sharing |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | NRN Climate Smart Grass |
| Organisation | Bangor University |
| Department | School of Ocean Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contribution of expertise in plant stress tolerance and assessment of forage quality. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervision of post doctoral researcher. Participation in design of experimentation across partnership (IBERS, Bangor University, CEH Bangor). |
| Impact | Outputs with direct involvement from ISPG staff 1. Humphreys MW, Loka D, Gwynn-Jones D, Scullion J, Doonan J, Gasior D, Harper J, Farrell M, Kingston-Smith A, Dodd R, Chadwick D, Hill P, Mills G, Hayes F, Robinson D, and Jones D. (2016). Climate-smart strategies to safeguard persistency and achieve sustainable grassland production, The multiple role of grasslands in the European bioeconomy. In: Proceedings of the 26th. General Meeting of the European Grasslands Federation, Eds: Hoglind M, Bakken AK, Hovstad KA, Kallioniemi E, Riley H, Steinsham H, Ostrem L; Trondheim, Norway pp 802-804 2. Loka D, Humphreys M,, Gwynn-Jones D, Scullion J, Doonan J, Gasior D, Harper J, Farrell M, Kingston-Smith A, Dodd R, Chadwick D, Hill P, Mills G, Hayes F, Robinson D, Jones D (2016). How one stress might impact on another. VI Eucarpia Festulolium Working Group Workshop. Olomouc, Czech Republic 5-6 April 2016 3. Humphreys M, Loka D, Gwynn-Jones D, Scullion J, Doonan J, Gasior D, Harper J, Farrell M, Kingston-Smith A, Dodd R, Chadwick D, Hill P, Mills G, Hayes F, Robinson D, Jones D (2016). Developing climate-smart grasslands. VI Eucarpia Festulolium Working Group Workshop. Olomouc, Czech Republic 5-6 April 2016 4. Loka D, Humphreys M, Gwynn-Jones D, Scullion J, Doonan J, Gasior D, Harper J, Farrell M, Kingston-Smith A, Dodd R, Chadwick D, Hill P, Robinson D, Jones D. (2016) Designing resilient and productive grasses with plasticity to extreme weather events. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | "Y Bol Buwch" (All Things Rumen) exhibit at Royal Welsh Show, July 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | • Initiated and oversaw "Y Bol Buwch" (All Things Rumen) exhibit at Royal Welsh Show, July 2015 including "Live lab" deonstrations of DNA extraction and fermentation and "Bug bashing" (type of coconut shy). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | AKS Invited to give seminar at Oxford Brookes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talked to a group of bioscience postgraduates and supervisors. Wide ranging discussions on practicalities and ethics associated with livestock and the environment. New potential research contacts made. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Excellence with impact poster. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Poster titled: Manipulation of rumen nitrogen flows by use of Festulolium hybrids in rumen simulation fermenters, Kamau S, Belanche A, Davies T, Rees-Stevens P, Humphreys M, Kingston-Smith A. Presented as part of IBERS entry to BBSRC Excellent with Impact Competition 2016 for which IBERS were awarded Special Commendation for impact policy around global food security. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Exhibition at Royal Welsh Show 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Exhibits and quizzes used to alter awareness of grass quality and how it is digested in the rumen under the general heading "Not all grasses are the same". The enabled more detailed discussions with adults and livestock practitioners about determination of quality traits and IBERS breeding directions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Public engagement (Royal Welsh Show) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Demonstration of interactive rumen over four days of national agricultural show, leading to discussion with members of the public and prospective students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Sparking Impact Meeting - Waitrose Supply Chain/IBERS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | With British producers facing ever-increasing expectations - to deliver traceability, meet higher environmental standards and maintain the countryside - Waitrose, IBERS and suppliers have been working together to share experiences on topics such as animal and plant diseases, food security issues and strains on productivity. This event gave suppliers, large and small, direct access to Waitrose buyers, food technologists and scientists and helped smaller producers, in particular, to understand food legislation. The outcome of the event was a sharing of best practice throughout Waitrose's supply chain and beyond. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Visit to WHEB, EU, Brussels |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Visit of 7 researchers to Welsh Higher Education Brussels, organised by National Research network (Wales) in Low Carbon Energy and Environment. Objective was to engage with Research Programme Directors and managers of platforms related to agriculture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | information for SoB poster |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Dr Kingston-Smith collaborated with Society of Biology during their preparation of a poster for schools titled "What goes in to a cow?" aimed at GCSE level students. Posters used by Society of Biology Staff during National Science week. Posters available to schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |