Microbes behind resilient livestock
The rural economy and food system of Europe depend heavily on livestock farming. But livestock is also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, there is growing pressure to reduce emissions, improve animal welfare, and adapt to changing environmental conditions. While genetics and nutrition have traditionally driven progress in animal health and productivity, a new player is gaining attention: the microbiome. The microbial communities that inhabit and surround animals play a fundamental role in digestion, immunity and general health. The collective term for this unique holobiome ecosystem is derived from the Greek words holos, which means ‘whole’, and bios, which means ‘life’. A novel perspective on animal health is gaining interest that considers the holobiome in constant interaction with microbial symbionts rather than in isolation.
Mapping the ruminant holobiome
The EU-funded HoloRuminant(opens in new window) project coordinated by INRAE in France, recognises the importance of the holobiome and its interaction with ruminant hosts. The team has set out to investigate ruminant microbiomes as well as their influence on host health, welfare and productivity. The ultimate goal is to develop strategies that maximise animal performance and reduce environmental consequences. HoloRuminant brings together researchers across Europe to study cattle, sheep and goats in different life stages and environments. It employs multi-omics methodology, a scientific approach that looks at many layers of biology at once such as genes, proteins, and chemicals in the body. Multi-omics is used to analyse the microbiomes that inhabit key body sites such as the rumen, skin, respiratory and reproductive tracts. This in-depth mapping will allow the team to assess how these microbial communities develop and change over time, how they are influenced by diet and management, and how they affect the host animal’s physiology and productivity. Importantly, it will help researchers examine how microbiome may be inherited or manipulated to improve performance traits such as milk yield, growth rate, disease resistance or methane emissions.
Aligning with EU sustainability goals
HoloRuminant research aligns with several EU policy objectives, including the European Green Deal, the farm to fork strategy and the bioeconomy strategy. It aims to identify ways to reduce environmental impact while improving animal welfare. For example, feed or breeding interventions that promote beneficial gut microbiota may help reduce methane emissions, which is a major concern in ruminant production. As Europe moves towards a bio-based economy, HoloRuminant findings and tools will be essential for designing livestock systems that are resilient to environmental and economic pressures, but at the same time remain productive and ethical. In doing so, the project is helping translate microbial knowledge into practical, scalable strategies for the future of European farming.
Building research and management resources
A significant outcome of HoloRuminant will be the development of tools for the wider scientific and agricultural community. These resources will be publicly available in order to fuel future research and support studies and innovations in livestock management and breeding. Moreover, the project’s findings are expected to inform the development of microbiome-based interventions, such as probiotics or diets that promote beneficial microbial communities. These strategies could lead to more resilient animals and sustainable food systems.