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T-Stór is Teagasc’s Open Access Repository, maintained by the Teagasc Library Service. Stór is the Gaelic word for Repository or Store or Warehouse, and T-Stór is an online “store” of Teagasc Research outputs and related documents. T-Stór collects preserves and makes freely available scholarly communication, including peer-reviewed articles, working papers and conference papers created by Teagasc researchers. Where material has already been published it is made available subject to the open-access policies of the original publishers. About Teagasc
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Relationship between the rumen microbiome and liver transcriptome in beef cattle divergent for feed efficiencyAbstract Background Feed costs account for a high proportion of the variable cost of beef production, ultimately impacting overall profitability. Thus, improving feed efficiency of beef cattle, by way of determining the underlying genomic control and selecting for feed efficient cattle provides a method through which feed input costs may be reduced whilst also contributing to the environmental sustainability of beef production. The rumen microbiome dictates the feed degradation capacity and consequent nutrient supply in ruminants, thus potentially impacted by feed efficiency phenotype. Equally, liver tissue has been shown to be responsive to feed efficiency phenotype as well as dietary intake. However, although both the rumen microbiome and liver transcriptome have been shown to be impacted by host feed efficiency phenotype, knowledge of the interaction between the rumen microbiome and other peripheral tissues within the body, including the liver is lacking. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare two contrasting breed types (Charolais and Holstein-Friesian) divergent for residual feed intake (RFI) over contrasting dietary phases (zero-grazed grass and high-concentrate), based on gene co-expression network analysis of liver transcriptome data and microbe co-abundance network of rumen microbiome data. Traits including RFI, dry matter intake (DMI) and growth rate (ADG), as well as rumen concentrations of volatile fatty acids were also included within the network analysis. Results Overall, DMI had the greatest number of connections followed by RFI, with ADG displaying the fewest number of significant connections. Hepatic genes related to lipid metabolism were correlated to both RFI and DMI phenotypes, whilst genes related to immune response were correlated to DMI. Despite the known relationship between RFI and DMI, the same microbes were not directly connected to these phenotypes, the Succiniclasticum genus was however, negatively connected to both RFI and ADG. Additionally, a stepwise regression analysis revealed significant roles for both Succiniclasticum genus and Roseburia.faecis sp. in predicting RFI, DMI and ADG. Conclusions Results from this study highlight the interactive relationships between rumen microbiome and hepatic transcriptome data of cattle divergent for RFI, whilst also increasing our understanding of the underlying biology of both DMI and ADG in beef cattle.
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Increasing tree cover on Irish dairy and drystock farms: The main attitudes, influential bodies and barriers that affect agroforestry uptakeAgroforestry has been cited as a means to increase sustainability and biodiversity at a farm level while allowing farming to continue on the same parcel of land. However, even with profitable financial incentives currently in place to promote agroforestry uptake, uptake remains low in Ireland. This highlights that farmer decision-making regarding the adoption of agri-environmental measures do not follow the assumed economic rationality. To better understand the factors that influence farmer decision-making with respect to tree planting on farms, this study used an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to identify the main attitudes, influencers and intentions of Irish dairy and drystock farmers to planting trees on their land. The barriers to these farmers adopting agroforestry were also investigated. An online cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a nationally representative sample of the farmers in Ireland. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to assess the direct and indirect effects of TPB constructs on intention towards adopting agroforestry. According to the SEM analysis, the TPB constructs explained 74% of the variance in intention to plant trees. The results demonstrate that these farmers are mainly driven by their attitude and moral norms which in turn are shaped through the views of their influential people such as advisors and local farmers. The current method of increasing agroforestry uptake is mainly top-down driven and focused on the economic incentives currently in place. New methods to increase agroforestry should focus on encouraging people of influential status within the farming community to promote agroforestry, and through promoting co-design and co-creative systems.
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Sowing seeds of awareness: a cross-sectional analysis of mental health literacy and help-seeking in Irish farmersAbstract Background Farmers around the world are at risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation yet many avoid seeking help. In Ireland, farmers’ mental health is a national concern, as farmers face barriers of masculine norms around help-seeking. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and relationship between mental health literacy and mental health help-seeking in the Irish farming community. It also aimed to identify if mental health literacy or mental health help-seeking differed depending on gender, age, education, health status and income level. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of 351 Irish farmers’ mental health literacy and help-seeking using validated psychometric measures: the Mental Help Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS), the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Short Form (ATSPPH-SF), and the Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Measure (MMHL). Results Irish farmers’ mental health literacy and help-seeking scores were interrelated. Though low, farmers’ scores were comparable to the general population and higher than some European samples. Despite broadly favourable attitudes towards seeking professional mental health help, Irish farmers perceived significant barriers to accessing care and exhibited stoic health attitudes. Farmers with less education and men were particularly at risk. Conclusion Irish farmers’ stoic attitudes may be a response to their perceived lack of services. Interventions providing mental health literacy education and improving access to existing mental health services are particularly important for this population of farmers.
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Shotgun metagenomic sequencing reveals the influence of artisanal dairy environments on the microbiomes, quality, and safety of Idiazabal, a raw ewe milk PDO cheeseAbstract Background Numerous studies have highlighted the impact of bacterial communities on the quality and safety of raw ewe milk-derived cheeses. Despite reported differences in the microbiota among cheese types and even producers, to the best of our knowledge, no study has comprehensively assessed all potential microbial sources and their contributions to any raw ewe milk-derived cheese, which could suppose great potential for benefits from research in this area. Here, using the Protected Designation of Origin Idiazabal cheese as an example, the impact of the environment and practices of artisanal dairies (including herd feed, teat skin, dairy surfaces, and ingredients) on the microbiomes of the associated raw milk, whey, and derived cheeses was examined through shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Results The results revealed diverse microbial ecosystems across sample types, comprising more than 1300 bacterial genera and 3400 species. SourceTracker analysis revealed commercial feed and teat skin as major contributors to the raw milk microbiota (45.6% and 33.5%, respectively), being a source of, for example, Lactococcus and Pantoea, along with rennet contributing to the composition of whey and cheese (17.4% and 41.0%, respectively), including taxa such as Streptococcus, Pseudomonas_E or Lactobacillus_H. Functional analysis linked microbial niches to cheese quality- and safety-related metabolic pathways, with brine and food contact surfaces being most relevant, related to genera like Brevibacterium, Methylobacterium, or Halomonas. With respect to the virulome (virulence-associated gene profile), in addition to whey and cheese, commercial feed and grass were the main reservoirs (related to, e.g., Brevibacillus_B or CAG-196). Similarly, grass, teat skin, or rennet were the main contributors of antimicrobial resistance genes (e.g., Bact-11 or Bacteriodes_B). In terms of cheese aroma and texture, apart from the microbiome of the cheese itself, brine, grass, and food contact surfaces were key reservoirs for hydrolase-encoding genes, originating from, for example, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Listeria or Chromohalobacter. Furthermore, over 300 metagenomic assembled genomes (MAGs) were generated, including 60 high-quality MAGs, yielding 28 novel putative species from several genera, e.g., Citricoccus, Corynebacterium, or Dietzia. Conclusion This study emphasizes the role of the artisanal dairy environments in determining cheese microbiota and, consequently, quality and safety. Video Abstract
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Continuous Cover Forestry in Ireland - Informing through research and accessible Massive Open Online CoursesThis article describes some of the work conducted by Teagasc related to continuous cover forestry management. This includes: long-term research; collaborating with European partners in developing the first Massive Open Online Course on Continuous Cover Forest management; in-forest interactive training in marteloscopes.