Mechanistic basis of Asparagopsis taxiformis in reducing methane emissions: 16S rRNA and metagenomics study in dairy cattle
Livestock emit significant methane, a major greenhouse gas, primarily from rumen microbes during feed digestion. Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT), a red seaweed, effectively reduces cow methane emissions. To evaluate AT's effects in cow rumens, we employed 16S rRNA, real-time PCR, and shotgun metagenomics to identify prevalent methanogenic species and pivotal enzymes in ruminal methanogenesis pathways.