Abstract: A method of mimicking a phenotype of a first ruminating animal in a second ruminating animal is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the second ruminating animal a microbial composition comprising a plurality of microbes having a signature which is statistically significantly similar to the microbial signature of a rumen microbiome of the first ruminating animal, wherein the first and the second ruminating animal are of identical species, thereby mimicking the phenotype of the first ruminating animal in the second ruminating animal.

Abstract: A method of determining the feed efficiency and methane production of a ruminating animal comprising analyzing the number and/or diversity of a bacterial taxon of a microbiome of the animal or of a gene content of said microbiome, wherein a number and/or diversity of said taxon below a predetermined level is indicative of an animal having a high feed efficiency and low methane production, or a number of genes below a predetermined level is indicative of an animal having a high feed efficiency and low methane production.

Abstract: A method of altering the composition of the microbiome of an adult ruminant is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the ruminant when it is the newborn stage of life, a composition which alters the amount of bacteria of the Akkermansia genus in the microbiome of the newborn ruminant, thereby altering the composition of the microbiome of the adult ruminant.

Abstract: A method of selecting a ruminating animal having a desirable, hereditable trait is disclosed. The method comprises analyzing in the microbiome of the animal for an amount of a hereditable microorganism which is associated with the hereditable trait, wherein the amount of the hereditable microorganism is indicative as to whether the animal has a desirable hereditable trait.

Abstract: A method of culturing an aquaculture of an aquatic animal species of interest is disclosed. The method comprises inoculating the aquaculture with bacteria of at least one genera selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas, Limnohabitans, Janthinobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Aeromonas, Acinetobacter and Morganella, wherein the bacteria are provided in an amount sufficient to increase the survival and/or weight of the aquatic animal, thereby culturing the aquaculture of the aquatic animal species.

Abstract: A method of determining the feed efficiency and methane production of a ruminating animal comprising analyzing the number and/or diversity of a bacterial taxon of a microbiome of the animal or of a gene content of said microbiome, wherein a number and/or diversity of said taxon below a predetermined level is indicative of an animal having a high feed efficiency and low methane production, or a number of genes below a predetermined level is indicative of an animal having a high feed efficiency and low methane production.

Abstract: A method of determining the feed efficiency and methane production of a ruminating animal comprising analyzing the number and/or diversity of a bacterial taxon of a microbiome of the animal or of a gene content of said microbiome, wherein a number and/or diversity of said taxon below a predetermined level is indicative of an animal having a high feed efficiency and low methane production, or a number of genes below a predetermined level is indicative of an animal having a high feed efficiency and low methane production.

Abstract: A method of selecting a ruminating animal having a desirable, hereditable trait is disclosed. The method comprises analyzing in the microbiome of the animal for an amount of a hereditable microorganism which is associated with the hereditable trait, wherein the amount of the hereditable microorganism is indicative as to whether the animal has a desirable hereditable trait.

Abstract: A method of determining the feed efficiency and methane production of a ruminating animal comprising analyzing the number and/or diversity of a bacterial taxon of a microbiome of the animal or of a gene content of said microbiome, wherein a number and/or diversity of said taxon below a predetermined level is indicative of an animal having a high feed efficiency and low methane production, or a number of genes below a predetermined level is indicative of an animal having a high feed efficiency and low methane production.

Abstract: Lactic acid bacterial cultures, cell populations and articles of manufacture comprising same are disclosed for generating ethanol from lignocellulse.

Abstract: Lactic acid bacterial cultures, cell populations and articles of manufacture comprising same are disclosed for generating ethanol from lignocellulose.

Abstract: Lactic acid cell cultures for processing lignocellulose are disclosed. The bacterial culture may comprise a biomass composition and a population of lactic acid bacteria which comprises: (i) a first population of lactic acid bacteria which has been genetically modified to express a secreted cellulase; and (ii) a second population of lactic acid bacteria which has been genetically modified to express a secreted xylanase, wherein the ratio of the first population: second population is selected such that the specific activity of cellulase:xylanase in the culture is greater than 4:1 or less than 1:4.

Abstract: Lactic acid bacterial cultures, cell populations and articles of manufacture comprising same are disclosed for generating ethanol from lignocellulose.

Abstract: A method of mimicking a phenotype of a first ruminating animal in a second ruminating animal is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the second ruminating animal a microbial composition comprising a plurality of microbes having a signature which is statistically significantly similar to the microbial signature of a rumen microbiome of the first ruminating animal, wherein the first and the second ruminating animal are of identical species, thereby mimicking the phenotype of the first ruminating animal in the second ruminating animal.

Abstract: A method (300, 400) to provide for provisioning and a product. In one embodiment a processor (210) receives a pre-configured data image and writes it to a first area (221) of non-volatile memory (220) using, for example a first writing mode. Thereafter, for example after a power cycle the processor (210) determines whether an update to a second area of the non-volatile memory is required, and if so converts a first data item from the first area into a second data item uniquely associated with the product unit and writes the second data item in a second area (222) using a second writing mode.

Abstract: A method (300, 400) to provide for provisioning and a product. In one embodiment a processor (210) receives a pre-configured data image and writes it to a first area (221) of non-volatile memory (220) using, for example a first writing mode. Thereafter, for example after a power cycle the processor (210) determines whether an update to a second area of the non-volatile memory is required, and if so converts a first data item from the first area into a second data item uniquely associated with the product unit and writes the second data item in a second area (222) using a second writing mode.