New Horizons in Gut Microbiome Research for Enhancing Livestock Productivity

Livestock production significantly contributes to environmental challenges, notably through enteric fermentation that generates substantial methane emissions and through waste-derived greenhouse gases. Climate change-related heat stress further exacerbates these issues, negatively influencing livestock performance and resilience. Recent studies emphasize the critical role gut microbiota plays in livestock health and production efficiency, yet substantial gaps remain in our understanding of how environmental stressors, dietary components, and contaminants affect microbial composition and function. Advances in high-throughput omics technologies have vastly enhanced our ability to analyze the complex interactions within gut microbial communities, revealing their central role in fiber fermentation, nutrient absorption, and potentially the biodegradation of environmental contaminants. Nevertheless, how dietary modifications, environmental pollutants, heat stress, and varying husbandry practices collectively influence microbiome composition, metabolic potential, and methane emissions warrants deeper investigation.

This Research Topic aims to clarify the relationships between gut microbiota, environmental stressors, and livestock productivity, focusing on reducing methane emissions via manipulating microbial ecology. It seeks to assess how specific dietary interventions, microbial supplements, and environmental factors influence the structure and function of gut communities, thereby promoting animal productivity, welfare, and environmental sustainability. The central objectives include reducing livestock methane emissions, counteracting production losses induced by heat stress, and understanding the microbial roles in detoxification processes associated with environmental pollutants. Investigations utilizing advanced omics approaches will particularly contribute to better elucidating microbiome-driven mechanisms and interventional strategies for sustainable livestock production.

To gather further insights within the scope of gut microbiota roles in livestock productivity and environmental health, we welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Effects of dietary composition on gut microbial structure and metabolic activities in livestock
• Novel feed supplements and management practices for mitigation of enteric methane emissions
• The response of gut microbiota to heat stress conditions and methods of amelioration
• Influence of environmental pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, pesticide residues) on microbial communities and the detoxification potential of gut microbiota
• Application of multi-omics technologies to dissect microbial composition and functional traits linked to livestock gut ecosystems
• The impact of microbial and management interventions in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from animal manure and waste products

Researchers are encouraged to submit original research articles and comprehensive reviews aligned with these themes. Original studies exploring novel interactions and outcomes within this research area are highly welcomed, provided they substantially contribute to the broad themes of gut microbiome management, livestock productivity improvement, carbon footprint reduction, and environmental safety.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: gut, Livestock production, Omics technologies, Climate, Heat stress, Environmental pollutants, Heavy metals, Pesticides residues, Microbial degradation, Carbon, Excrement microbiota, GHG emissions

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.