Brooker, J.Thomson, A.Ward, H.2014-01-272014-01-271992Australasian biotechnology, 1992; 2(5):288-2911036-7128http://hdl.handle.net/2440/81797Ruminant production is a major focus of Australian agriculture. The ability of ruminant animals such as sheep and cattle to make productive use of low quality plant materials depends on the activity and efficiency of the anaerobic microbial population that resides in the rumen. Factors that affect ruminant production include the ability of cellulolytic microorganisms to digest plant structural polysaccharides (primarily cellulose and hemicellulose), the capacity of microorganisms to metabolise and detoxify otherwise inhibitory plant products and the efficiency of nitrogen utilisation by ruminal organisms. This review will consider some current Australian research programs aimed at improving ruminant production efficiency by genetic engineering of ruminal bacteria.enCopyright status unknownRumenAnimalsCattleSheepBacteriaPlants, EdibleNitrogenCelluloseGenetic EngineeringAgricultureAustraliaInactivation, MetabolicJournal article00300002162014012807541483 Animal Production and Animal Primary Products8399 Other Animal Production and Animal Primary Products839999 Animal Production and Animal Primary Products not elsewhere classified07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences0799 Other Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences079999 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences not elsewhere classified2-s2.0-002694052964222Ward, H. [0000-0002-3831-1205]