Application of recombinant DNA methods to rumen bacteria.

The principal aim of this work is to increase the efficiency with which ruminants are able to digest fibrous plant tissues, to allow more effective nutrition of animals grazing on unimproved pastures. The approach taken is to increase the digestive capability of rumen bacteria by genetically engineering them to produce increased levels of cellulase and hemicellulase enzymes, or to produce more efficient combinations of these enzymes.