The impact of divergent breed types and diets on methane emissions, rumen characteristics and performance of finishing beef cattle

Abstract Crossbreeding has been used to improve performance in beef cattle; however, the effects of breed composition on methane production, yield and intensity from cattle in a tropical intensive system remain unknown. To assess the impact of breed composition on enteric methane emissions, Nellore (NE; yr 1: BW = 171.5 ± 19.4 kg; n = 10; yr 2: BW = 215.8 ± 32.3 kg, n = 25) and Angus-Nellore crossbred (AN; yr 1: BW = 214.2 ± 26.4 kg, n = 10; yr 2: BW = 242.5 ± 32.2 kg, n = 25) were compared. At trial onset, 10 mo old steers grazed Megathyrsus maximus ‘Mombaça’ in the grazing period (GP) and then were finished in a feedlot (FL) (35:65% corn silage:concentrate diet). Steers (n = 8) from each breed composition were randomly selected in GP and FL to measure CH4 production using a sulfur hexafluoride technique and DMI using titanium dioxide. The NE produced 19% less CH4 than AN in GP (17.21 vs 21.17 kg, P < 0.01), and no difference was observed in FL (22.34 vs 22.67 kg, P > 0.10). However, in FL, NE had greater CH4 intensity (CH4/ADG) compared to AN (122.76 vs 97.49 g/kg, P < 0.01). Furthermore, CH4/carcass weight was greater for NE than AN (0.079 vs 0.067 g/kg CW, P < 0.01). Breed composition did not influence CH4 yield (CH4/DMI) in either phase. The percentage CH4/GEI (Ym) for GP was higher for AN than NE (4.5 vs 3.8%), but lower than the IPCC recommended Ym of 6.5%. In FL, Ym was similar between breed composition (5.0%) and greater than the IPCC Ym of 3%. In our study the introduction of Angus into Nellore has potential to reduce CH4 intensity in tropical climates, resulting in less methane emission per kg beef produced.

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Intake, growth rate and carcass quality of beef cattle fed forage mixtures of grass silage and maize silage

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200000739 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 2000 ◽

pp. 72-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E.M. Browne ◽

M.J. Bryant ◽

D.E. Beever ◽

A.V. Fisher

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Starch Content ◽

Carcass Quality ◽

Maize Silage ◽

Concentrate Supplementation ◽

Grass Silage ◽

And Performance ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle ◽

Forage Mixtures

Replacing grass silage with maize silage in the diets of finishing beef cattle can improve DM intake and performance even when starch content of the maize silage is low (McCabe, O'Mara and Caffery, 1995). The objective of this experiment was to investigate the response of beef cattle fed diets containing different proportions of maize silage and grass silage with the same level of concentrate supplementation.

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Effect of sward surface height on herbage intake and performance of finishing beef cattle

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1080/00288233.1999.9513365 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 155-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

C. E. Realini ◽

J. Hodgson ◽

S. T. Morris ◽

R. W. Purchas

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Herbage Intake ◽

And Performance ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

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A Scoping Review: The Impact of Housing Systems and Environmental Features on Beef Cattle Welfare

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10040565 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 565 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rachel M. Park ◽

Margaret Foster ◽

Courtney L. Daigle

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Performance Metrics ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Housing Systems ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Environmental Features ◽

And Performance ◽

The Impact

Housing systems and environmental features can influence beef cattle welfare. To date, little information has been synthesized on this topic. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the relationship between housing and welfare status, so that beef cattle producers and animal scientists can make informed decisions regarding how their housing choices could impact beef cattle welfare. Housing features were categorized by floor type, space allowance and shade availability, as well as the inclusion of enrichment devices or ventilation features. Evaluation of space allowances across feedlot environments determined behavioral and production benefits when cattle were housed between 2.5 m2 to 3.0 m2 per animal. Over 19 different flooring types were investigated and across flooring types; straw flooring was viewed most favorably from a behavioral, production and hygiene standpoint. Veal calves experience enhanced welfare (e.g., improved behavioral, physiological, and performance metrics) when group housed. There is evidence that the implementation of progressive housing modifications (e.g., shade, environmental enrichment) could promote the behavioral welfare of feedlot cattle. This review presents the advantages and disadvantages of specific housing features on the welfare of beef cattle.

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Synthetic rubber surface as an alternative to concrete to improve welfare and performance of finishing beef cattle reared on fully slatted flooring

animal ◽

10.1017/s1751731115000592 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1386-1392 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

M. Brscic ◽

R. Ricci ◽

P. Prevedello ◽

C. Lonardi ◽

R. De Nardi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Synthetic Rubber ◽

Rubber Surface ◽

And Performance ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

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Effects of hydrolyzable tannin with or without condensed tannin on methane emissions, nitrogen use, and performance of beef cattle fed a high-forage diet1,2

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/sky352 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Isaac A Aboagye ◽

Masahito Oba ◽

Alejandro Ramon Castillo ◽

Karen M Koenig ◽

Alan D Iwaasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Condensed Tannin ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

Hydrolyzable Tannin ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

And Performance ◽

High Forage

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Effect of dried distillers’ grains with solubles on enteric methane emissions and nitrogen excretion from finishing beef cattle

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas2012-151 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 93 (3) ◽

pp. 373-385 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

M. Hünerberg ◽

S. M. McGinn ◽

K. A. Beauchemin ◽

E. K. Okine ◽

O. M. Harstad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Corn Oil ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

Barley Grain ◽

Distillers Grains ◽

Nitrogen Excretion ◽

Distillers Grains With Solubles ◽

Dried Distillers Grains ◽

Enteric Methane ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

Hünerberg, M., McGinn, S. M., Beauchemin, K. A., Okine, E. K., Harstad, O. M. and McAllister, T. A. 2013. Effect of dried distillers’ grains with solubles on enteric methane emissions and nitrogen excretion from finishing beef cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 373–385. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of corn- or wheat-based dried distillers’ grains with solubles (CDDGS, WDDGS) on enteric methane (CH4) emissions from finishing beef cattle, and to determine if any observed reductions were a result of the fat content of CDDGS. A second objective was to compare the effect of CDDGS or WDDGS on N excretion. The experiment was designed as replicated 4×4 Latin square with 28-d periods using 16 ruminally fistulated crossbred heifers. The control diet contained 87% barley grain, 8% barley silage and 5% supplement (dry matter; DM basis). Treatment diets were formulated by replacing 40% DM of barley grain with CDDGS, WDDGS, or corn oil supplemented WDDGS (WDDGS+oil). For the WDDGS+oil diet 6.5% corn oil was added to WDDGS (3.4% fat DM) to achieve a similar fat level as in CDDGS (9.7% DM). All diets were fed as total mixed rations once daily ad libitum. Total collection of urine and faeces was conducted between days 18 and 21. Methane was measured between days 25 and 28 using four identical open circuit respiratory chambers. Compared with WDDGS, feeding CDDGS and WDDGS+oil reduced (P<0.05) CH4emissions as a percentage of gross energy intake (GEI) from 5.5 to 4.0 and 4.2%, respectively. Feeding CDDGS also reduced (P<0.05) CH4emissions compared with the control (5.0% of GEI), while WDDGS+oil tended (P=0.08) to elicit a similar response. Methane (% of GEI) between WDDGS and the control did not differ (P=0.29). Excretion of total N was greater (P<0.001) for CDDGS, WDDGS and WDDGS+oil (220, 253, and 265 g d−1) compared with the control (143 g d−1). Although oil appears to be responsible for reducing CH4emissions when DDGS is included in the diet, increased N excretion requires that a complete life cycle assessment be conducted to assess the full impact of DDGS on greenhouse gas emissions from finishing cattle.

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Methane Emissions and the Use of Desmanthus in Beef Cattle Production in Northern Australia

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9080542 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 542 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Bénédicte Suybeng ◽

Edward Charmley ◽

Christopher P. Gardiner ◽

Bunmi S. Malau-Aduli ◽

Aduli E. O. Malau-Aduli

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Production Systems ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Northern Australia ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production ◽

The Impact

The Australian beef industry is a major contributor to the economy with an estimated annual revenue generation of over seven billion dollars. The tropical state of Queensland accounted for 48% of Australian beef and veal production in 2018. As the third biggest beef exporter in the world, Australia supplies 3% of the world’s beef exports and its agricultural sector accounts for an estimated 13.2% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. About 71% of total agricultural emissions are in the form of methane and nitrous oxide. In this review, an overview of the carbon footprint of the beef cattle production system in northern Australia is presented, with emphasis on the mitigation of greenhouse gases. The review also focuses on the tropical legume, Desmanthus, one of the more promising nutritional supplements for methane abatement and improvement of animal growth performance. Among the review’s findings is the need to select environmentally well-adapted and vigorous tropical legumes containing tannins that can persistently survive under the harsh northern Australian conditions for driving animal performance, improving meat quality and reducing methane emissions. The paper argues that the use of appropriate legumes such as Desmanthus, is a natural and preferred alternative to the use of chemicals for the abatement of methane emanating from tropical beef cattle production systems. It also highlights current gaps in knowledge and new research opportunities for in vivo studies on the impact of Desmanthus on methane emissions of supplemented tropical beef cattle.

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