Amino acids metabolism by rumen microorganisms: Nutrition and ecology strategies to reduce nitrogen emissions from the inside to the outside

Peng Tan; Han Liu; Jing Zhao; Xueling Gu; Xiaobing Wei; Xiaojian Zhang; Ning Ma; Lee J Johnston; Yueyu Bai; Wenju Zhang; Cunxi Nie; Xi Ma

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149596

Amino acids metabolism by rumen microorganisms: Nutrition and ecology strategies to reduce nitrogen emissions from the inside to the outside

Sci Total Environ. 2021 Dec 15:800:149596. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149596. Epub 2021 Aug 11.

Authors

Peng Tan¹, Han Liu², Jing Zhao², Xueling Gu¹, Xiaobing Wei³, Xiaojian Zhang³, Ning Ma¹, Lee J Johnston⁴, Yueyu Bai³, Wenju Zhang⁵, Cunxi Nie⁵, Xi Ma⁶

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
² College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832000, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China.
³ College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China.
⁴ West Central Research & Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN 56267, USA.
⁵ College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832000, China.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832000, China. Electronic address: maxi@cau.edu.cn.

PMID: 34426337
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149596

Abstract

For the ruminant animal industry, the emission of nitrogenous substances, such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) and ammonia (NH₃), not only challenges environmental sustainability but also restricts its development. The metabolism of proteins and amino acids by rumen microorganisms is a key factor affecting nitrogen (N) excretion in ruminant animals. Rumen microorganisms that affect N excretion mainly include three types: proteolytic and peptidolytic bacteria (PPB), ureolytic bacteria (UB), and hyper-ammonia-producing bacteria (HAB). Microbes residing in the rumen, however, are influenced by several complex factors, such as diet, which results in fluctuations in the rumen metabolism of proteins and amino acids and ultimately affects N emission. Combining feed nutrition strategies (including ingredient adjustment and feed additives) and ecological mitigation strategies of N₂O and NH₃ in industrial practice can reduce the emission of nitrogenous pollutants from the ruminant breeding industry. In this review, the characteristics of the rumen microbial community related to N metabolism in ruminants were used as the metabolic basis. Furthermore, an effective strategy to increase N utilisation efficiency in combination with nutrition and ecology was reviewed to provide an inside-out approach to reduce N emissions from ruminants.

Keywords: Amino acids metabolism; Ecology; Feed nutrition; N emissions; Rumen microorganism; Ruminant.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Amino Acids
Animal Feed / analysis
Animals
Diet
Nitrogen*
Rumen*
Ruminants

Substances

Amino Acids
Nitrogen