Rajan Dhakal

Rajan Dhakal serves as a Guest Researcher in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on advancing sustainable livestock production through innovative studies on rumen fermentation dynamics and methane mitigation strategies using in-vitro systems.

Dr. Dhakal's primary research interests include animal nutrition, rumen microbiology, methane emission reduction, and sustainable livestock production systems. He employs in-vitro rumen fermentation models to investigate how chemical compounds, Nepalese fruits, dietary oils, and direct-fed microbials influence nutrient degradation kinetics, microbial community structure, volatile fatty acid profiles, and methane output. His work bridges fundamental microbiological research with practical applications for improving feed efficiency in ruminants while reducing environmental impacts.

Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a cohesive research trajectory centered on decoupling feed efficiency from methane production. His studies demonstrate that rumen microbiome composition does not consistently predict methane emissions, challenging conventional assumptions. Key methodological approaches include temporal monitoring of fermentation parameters with maize silage, evaluation of novel feed additives from traditional sources, and translation of in-vitro findings to calf and goat production systems.

Dr. Dhakal maintains active international collaborations across multiple countries, as evidenced by his co-authorship network and external research partnerships. His work has generated significant academic engagement with 26 research outputs including 17 peer-reviewed journal articles, attracting citations on Scopus and readership on Mendeley, particularly for studies on rumen microbiome dynamics and methane mitigation strategies.