Description
Agricultural systems, particularly ruminant systems, are underpinned by diverse, functional microbial communities—in the soil, forage, silo, and rumen. We have relied on the jobs they perform on our behalf, but only recently have we been able to look “under the hood” at the membership and mechanisms within these microbiomes and begin to think about optimization. Ensiling is a common method of forage preservation globally and represents a highly intensive intersection between forage and microbiology, which has been shown to have beneficial effects on forage quality and dairy animal performance. However, observations of enhanced productivity, especially in the context of inoculated silages, are inconsistent. A greater understanding of the functions of, and interactions between, forage, silo, and rumen microbiomes are needed to develop best practices that align the interests of producers and their microbial communities.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Combined Role of Microbes and Forages in Animal Productivity
Agricultural systems, particularly ruminant systems, are underpinned by diverse, functional microbial communities—in the soil, forage, silo, and rumen. We have relied on the jobs they perform on our behalf, but only recently have we been able to look “under the hood” at the membership and mechanisms within these microbiomes and begin to think about optimization. Ensiling is a common method of forage preservation globally and represents a highly intensive intersection between forage and microbiology, which has been shown to have beneficial effects on forage quality and dairy animal performance. However, observations of enhanced productivity, especially in the context of inoculated silages, are inconsistent. A greater understanding of the functions of, and interactions between, forage, silo, and rumen microbiomes are needed to develop best practices that align the interests of producers and their microbial communities.
