Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) has become a popular method for estimation of methanogen abundance in the ruminant digestive tract. However, there is no established method in terms of primer choice and quantification, which means that results are variable and not directly comparable between studies. Archaeol has been proposed as an alternative marker for methanogen abundance, as it is ubiquit...

Production of methane in the hindgut of the cockroach Periplaneta americana was found to vary, depending on the feeding regimen. Methane production was positively correlated with the numbers of the ciliate Nyctotherus ovalis living in the cockroach hindgut. Defaunation of the cockroaches by means of low concentrations of metronidazole (Flagyl) resulted in a quick drop of methane production. Add...

Baluchi sheep is the dominant fat-tail breed in Iran. We studied the microbial communities in the rumen of four Baluchi lambs fed a high concentrate conventional diet. Using DNA extracted from the rumen samples, we found the partial ribosomal rRNA of bacterial and archaeal were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplicons were sequenced using 454 Titanium pyrosequencing and the d...

Swiss Saanen goat is a widespread breed frequently found in commercial herds across the world. The present study aimed to identify the rumen microbial community of exotic Saanen goats adapted to a fibrous diet using barcoded pyrosequencing. Rumen content samples were collected from the four animals via a stomach tube after the morning graze and freeze-dried for DNA extraction. Bacterial and arc...

Baluchi sheep is the dominant fat-tail breed in Iran. We studied the microbial communities in the rumen of four Baluchi lambs fed a high concentrate conventional diet. Using DNA extracted from the rumen samples, we found the partial ribosomal rRNA of bacterial and archaeal were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplicons were sequenced using 454 Titanium pyrosequencing and the d...