University of Pennsylvania
Department of Clinical Studies
Rumen bacterial communities in forage-fed and grazing cattle continually adapt to a wide range of changing dietary composition, nutrient density, and environmental conditions. We hypothesized that very distinct community assemblages would... more
Background Enteric methane emissions from dairy cows are an environmental problem as well as a gross feed energy loss to the animal. Methane is generated in the rumen by methanogenic archaea from hydrogen (H2) + carbon dioxide and from... more
The rumen microbiome represents a complex microbial genetic web where bacteria, anaerobic rumen fungi (ARF), protozoa and archaea work in harmony contributing to the health and productivity of ruminants. We hypothesized that the rumen... more
Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology is a widely accepted tool used by microbial ecologists to explore complex microbial communities in different ecosystems. As new NGS platforms continue to become available, it becomes imperative... more
Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a global problem with serious implications for public health. AR genes are frequently detected on animal farms, but little is known about their origin and distribution patterns. We hypothesized that AR... more
Johne's disease (JD) is a chronic, intestinal infection of cattle, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). It results in granulomatous inflammation of the intestinal lining, leading to malabsorption, diarrhea, and... more
The purpose of this study was to compare the rumen bacterial composition in high and low yielding dairy cows within and between two dairy herds. Eighty five Holstein dairy cows in mid-lactation (79-179 days in milk) were selected from two... more
Frothy bloat is a serious digestive disorder in cattle (<em>Bos taurus</em> L.) grazing winter wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.) pastures in the Southern Great Plains of the USA. Wheat plant metabolism may be... more