Diversity of Gut Methanogens and Functional Enzymes Associated With Methane Metabolism in Smallholder Dairy Cattle
View/ Open
Date
2022Author
Ng'etich, D. K.
Bett, R. C.
Gachuiri, C. K.
Kibegwa, F. M
Type
PreprintLanguage
en_USMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Methane is a greenhouse gas with disastrous consequences when released to intolerable levels.
Ruminants produce methane during gut fermentation releasing it through belching and/or flatulence. To
better understand the diversity of methanogens and functional enzymes associated with methane
metabolism in dairy cows, 48 samples; six rumen and 42 dung contents were collected and analyzed
using a shotgun metagenomic approach. The results indicated archaea from 5 phyla, 9 classes, 16
orders, 25 families, 59 genera, and 87 species. Gut sites significantly contributed to the presence and
distribution of various methanogens (P<0.01). The class Methanomicrobia was abundant in the rumen
samples (~ 39%) and in dung (~44%). The most abundant (~17%) methanogen species identified was
Methanocorpusculum labreanum. However, some taxonomic classes were not classified (~ 6% in the
rumen and ~4% in the dung). Furthermore, five functional enzymes: Glycine/Serine hydroxy
methyltransferase, Formylmethanofuran—tetrahydromethanopterin N-formyltransferase, Formate
dehydrogenase, Anaerobic carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and Catalase-peroxidase were associated
with methane metabolism. KO0600 module and Enzyme Commissions (1.11.1.6 & 2.1.2.1) were common
for dung and rumen fluid’s enzymatic pathways. Functional analysis for the enzymes identified were
significant (P<0.05) for 5 metabolism processes. Breeding for tolerable methane emitting dairy cattle for
a sustainable environment should be undertaken
Citation
Ng'etich, D. K., Bett, R. C., Gachuiri, C. K., & Kibegwa, F. M. (2022). Diversity of Gut Methanogens and Functional Enzymes Associated With Methane Metabolism in Smallholder Dairy Cattle.Publisher
Research Square
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10381]