Download Developing better methods for culturing rumen bacteria

This project has developed better methods for culturing rumen bacteria, to make them available for more detailed investigation. This research underpins the development of a good fundamental understanding of rumen bacteria, which is a critical step towards manipulation and successful “hydrogen management” as a tool to mitigate rumen methane. The advance was achieved by developing better growth media, and using a statistical approach to rapidly isolate pure cultures of fermentative bacteria. Isolates of new genera of rumen bacteria were obtained that will allow a better understanding of the rumen to be achieved.