Omics & gene networks

Blood transcriptome pathway analysis of methane production for beef-on-dairy cattle

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Abstract

Methane (CH4) emissions pose significant challenges to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency in ruminants, particularly in dairy beef cattle. While various strategies, such as dietary modifications and the use of additives, are being explored to reduce these emissions, genetic selection for animals with lower methane production holds promise for sustainable and long-term benefits. Transcriptome analysis has emerged as a valuable tool to uncover the networks and mechanisms influencing methane emissions within the ruminant genome. In this study, methane emissions were evaluated using the GreenFeed system in a cohort of dairy beef cattle (n=11). Emissions varied from 233.5 to 332.16 g/day (mean ± SD: 291.18±25.85 g/day). Whole blood RNA (all leukocytes and platelet) as stabilized using PAXgene tubes and sequenced to capture leukocyte transcriptomes. Pathway analysis was conducted using the integrated Differential Expression and Pathway analysis tool (iDEP) and differential gene expression analysis using DESeq2 (Padj < 0.05) and methane as a continuous trait in the model. The DESeq2 identified nine annotated differentially expressed genes and the pathway analysis indicated potential pathways involved in ruminal methane production in dairy beef cattle.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Carballo, O., Morrison, S., Razban, V. & Shirali, M., (2026) “Blood transcriptome pathway analysis of methane production for beef-on-dairy cattle”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2335342. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.24396

Rights: 1