Effect of added dietary nitrate and elemental sulfur on wool growth and methane emission of Merino lambs

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Li ◽  
C. I. Silveira ◽  
J. V. Nolan ◽  
I. R. Godwin ◽  
R. A. Leng ◽  
...  

The effects of dietary nitrate (NO3) and elemental sulfur (S) on nutrient utilisation, productivity, and methane emission of Merino lambs were investigated. Forty-four lambs were randomly allocated to four groups (n = 11) fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets. The basal feed was supplemented with 1% urea + 0.18% S (T1), 1.88% NO3 + 0% S (T2), 1.88% NO3 + 0.18% S (T3), or 1.88% NO3 + 0.40% S (T4). Retention of S was improved by increasing the content of elemental S in the NO3-containing diet (P < 0.001), yet the N retention (g/day) by the animal, and the N and S content of wool (%), were not altered by S supplementation (P > 0.05). Dry matter intake, liveweight gain, and feed conversion ratio did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments. Replacing urea with NO3 improved the rate of clean wool growth by 37% (P < 0.001, T1 vs T3). Clean wool growth increased by 26% (P < 0.001) when the S content of the NO3-containing diet was increased from 0 to 0.18% (T2 vs T3). Methane production (g/day) and methane yield (g/kg DM intake) were reduced (P < 0.05) by 24% when urea was replaced by NO3 (T1 vs T3). The addition of 0.4% S to a diet containing 1.88% NO3 also reduced methane production (P = 0.021) and methane yield (P = 0.028). In conclusion, the addition of 1.88% NO3 and 0.18% elemental S to a total mixed diet increased clean wool production and reduced methane production. However, there was no evidence of inter-relationships between NO3 and S.

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Samal ◽  
L. C. Chaudhary ◽  
N. Agarwal ◽  
D. N. Kamra

Twenty growing buffalo calves were fed on a basal diet consisting of wheat straw and concentrate mixture in a randomised block design, to study the effect of feeding phytogenic feed additives on growth performance, nutrient utilisation and methanogenesis. The four groups were viz. control (no additive), Mix-1 (ajwain oil and lemon grass oil in 1 : 1 ratio @ 0.05% of dry matter intake), Mix-2 (garlic and soapnut in 2 : 1 ratio @ 2% of DMI) and Mix-3 (garlic, soapnut, harad and ajwain in 2 : 1 : 1 : 1 ratio @ 1% of DMI). The experimental feeding was continued for a period of 8 months. A metabolism trial was conducted after 130 days of feeding. Methane emission from animals was measured by open-circuit indirect respiration calorimeter. The feed conversion efficiency was higher by 9.5% in Mix-1, 7% in Mix-2 and 10.2% in Mix-3 group than in control. The digestibility of nutrients was similar except crude protein, which was improved (P < 0.05) in treatment groups. All buffalo calves were in positive nitrogen balance. Comparative faecal nitrogen decreased and urinary nitrogen increased in all the supplemented groups compared with in the control group. Methane emission (in terms of L/kg dry matter intake and L/kg digestible dry matter intake) was reduced by 13.3% and 17.8% in Mix-1, 10.9% and 13.5% in Mix-2 and 5.1% and 9.8% in Mix-3 groups as compared with control. When expressed in L/kg organic matter intake and L/kg digestible organic matter intake, methane production was reduced by 13.3% and 16.7% in Mix-1, 10.9% and 12.9% in Mix-2 and 5.1% and 8.4% in Mix-3 groups compared with the control group. These feed additives inhibited methane emission without adversely affecting feed utilisation by the animals. The faecal energy, urinary energy and methane energy losses were not affected (P > 0.05) due to feeding of these additives. Further, long-term feeding experiments should be conducted on a large number of animals to validate these effects before they can be recommended for use at a field level.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Stefanny Hernández Pineda ◽  
Paulina Elizabeth Pedraza Beltrán ◽  
Mohammed Benaouda ◽  
José Manuel Palma García ◽  
Francisca Avilés Nova ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of Pithecellobium dulce, Tagetes erecta and Cosmos bipinnatus on methane emission, milk yield and dry matter intake in dairy cattle. A 4×4 Latin square experimental design was employed, using four multiparous Holstein cows of 553±72.4kg body weight, at mid lactation and average milk yield of 17.3±3kg/day. The experiment lasted 92 days, divided into four experimental periods of 23 days each. All cows had free access to maize and alfalfa silage in a 50:50 proportion, 4kg of concentrate/day and ad libitum access to water. Treatments consisted in supplementation of 0.5kg/day of the experimental plants, with one control treatment without supplementation. Each cow received one of each treatment in turn during one of the four periods. The C. bipinnatus reduced methane production by 16% (P<0,05) in comparison with the control diet. Milk production, milk composition and dry matter intake were not affected (p>0 0.05) by the use of C. bipinnatus or any other plant species. Supplementation at low doses of C. bipinnatus showed a reduction in ruminal methane production in dairy cows.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Dheynne Alves Vieira ◽  
Andréia Santos Cezário ◽  
Wallacy Barbacena Rosa dos Santos ◽  
Jeferson Corrêa Ribeiro ◽  
Tiago Neves Pereira Valente ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of crossbred Holstein × Zebu steers fed on the diets containing sugarcane in natura or ensiled with two levels of concentrate (30% and 70%). A total of 32 males of 394 kg of body weight were used in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments and seven repetitions. The animals reported a high dry matter intake (DMI) (P < 0.05) when fed on the high concentrate levels. The increase in concentrate levels resulted in an approximately 25% to 60% higher DMI as compared to the lowest level offered by silage-based diets and sugarcane in natura. The highest apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter were observed in the diets based on sugarcane in natura (P < 0.05). The sugarcane based diets also affected (P > 0.05) the digestibility of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein, ether extract, and non-fiber carbohydrates. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between the diets for average daily weight gain, carcass dressing, carcass gain, and feed conversion. The diets based on sugarcane in nature or ensiled with 30% and 70% concentrates do not influence the performance of crossbred Holstein × Zebu cattle.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. I. Velazco ◽  
R. M. Herd ◽  
D. J. Cottle ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

As daily methane production (DMP; g CH4/day) is strongly correlated with dry matter intake (DMI), the breeding of cattle that require less feed to achieve a desired rate of average daily gain (ADG) by selection for a low residual feed intake (RFI) can be expected to reduce DMP and also emission intensity (EI; g CH4/kg ADG). An experiment was conducted to compare DMP and EI of Angus cattle genetically divergent for RFI and 400-day weight (400dWT). In a 6-week grazing study, 64 yearling-age cattle (30 steers, 34 heifers) were grazed on temperate pastures, with heifers and steers grazing separate paddocks. Liveweight (LW) was monitored weekly and DMP of individual cattle was measured by a GreenFeed emission monitoring unit in each paddock. Thirty-nine of the possible 64 animals had emission data recorded for 15 or more days, and only data for these animals were analysed. For these cattle, regression against their mid-parent estimated breeding value (EBV) for post-weaning RFI (RFI-EBV) showed that a lower RFI-EBV was associated with higher LW at the start of experiment. Predicted dry matter intake (pDMI), predicted DMP (pDMP) and measured DMP (mDMP) were all negatively correlated with RFI-EBV (P < 0.05), whereas ADG, EI, predicted CH4 yield (pMY; g CH4/kg DMI) were not correlated with RFI-EBV (P > 0.1). Daily CH4 production was positively correlated with animal LW and ADG (P < 0.05). The associations between ADG and its dependent traits EI and pMY and predicted feed conversion ratio (kg pDMI/kg ADG) were strongly negative (r = –0.82, –0.57 and –0.85, P < 0.001) implying that faster daily growth by cattle was accompanied by lower EI, MY and feed conversion ratio. These results show that cattle genetically divergent for RFI do not necessarily differ in ADG, EI or pMY on pasture and that, if heavier, cattle with lower RFI-EBV can actually have higher DMP while grazing moderate quality pastures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 106559
Author(s):  
Francisco Enrique Franco Febres ◽  
Lucrecia Aguirre Terrazas ◽  
Javier Ñaupari Vasquez ◽  
Juan Elmer Moscoso Muñoz ◽  
Felipe San Martín Howard ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Carcelén Cáceres ◽  
Felipe San Martín Howard ◽  
Miguel Ara Gómez ◽  
Sandra Bezada Quintana ◽  
Ana Asencios Méndez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effect of the three inulin levels (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%) supplemented as a substitute for an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP, zinc bacitracin) and control in guinea pigs raised for human consumption. Fifty 14-day-old male guinea pigs were used. Productive parameters (weight gain, total dry matter intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR)) and intestinal morphology of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum at slaughter (70 days of age) were evaluated. An inverse relationship was observed between inulin levels and FCR (linear effect; P = 0.006). There was no statistically significant effect of the treatments on total dry matter intake and weight gain (P > 0.05). A linear effect of the inulin level on the villi’s length (VL), villi’s width (VW), and length/depth ratio (VL/DC) in the duodenum; VW in the jejunum; and VL in the ileum (P <0 .05) was reported. In conclusion, a linear effect of the increasing doses of inulin was found on the FCR and the morphological parameters of the duodenum’s integrity, and no differences in the effects of the inulin added to the diet and the treatment with AGP were found.


1979 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Doyle ◽  
RJ Moir

Two experiments were carried out to study the excretion and retention of nitrogen and sulfur when intraruminal infusions of DL-methionine were given to sheep. Merino wethers were fed on a 50:50 oaten chaff: lucerne chaff ration at different levels of dry matter intake (DMI), either as chaff or ground and pelleted, and with or without intraruminal infusions of DL-methionine. Liveweight gain in experiment 1, and the rate of wool growth and sulfur incorporation into wool were also measured. [35S]L-methionine was used to trace sulfur excretion from the supplement. Increasing the DMI increased (P < 0.001) nitrogen and sulfur excretion in both faeces and urine, but also increased (P < 0.001) the apparent retention of nitrogen and sulfur. The excretion of nitrogen and sulfur was not significantly affected by the form in which the basal ration was supplied, but sulfur retention did improve (P < 0.05) when the ration was given as chaff. DL-methionine supplements resulted in large increases (P < 0.001) in the excretion of total and inorganic sulfate sulfur in urine, and there was a tendency for urinary neutral sulfur excretion to increase. The amino acid supplement did not affect faecal sulfur excretion except at the lower level of feed intake in experiment 2. Differences in the amount of sulfur, from DL-methionine and [35S]L- methionine injections given into the rumen, excreted in faeces and urine indicate possible differences in the metabolism of the amino acid isomers. Increasing DMI resulted in improved (P < 0.001) rates of liveweight gain and wool growth; DL-methionine infusions had no effect. Further, estimates of sulfur incorporation into wool indicate that very little supplementary methionine was utilized at the follicular sites despite increased sulfur retention. The patterns of sulfur excretion suggest that the added methionine was rapidly and virtually completely dissimilated in the rumen. It is concluded that production responses to dietary methionine supplementation occur only under sulfur-deficient conditions or occasionally where degradation is avoided. _____________________ *Part II, Aust. J. Biol. Sci., 32: 65 (1979).


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 42559
Author(s):  
Tatiana Lucila Pires Sobrinho ◽  
Renata Helena Branco ◽  
Elaine Magnani ◽  
Alexandre Berndt ◽  
Roberta Carrilho Canesin ◽  
...  

  


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 1288 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Barnett ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

Developing processes which reduce enteric methane production without compromising animal productivity has become critical for sustainable livestock production. It was hypothesised that administrating cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) to sheep would decrease methane yield (MY) and plasma concentration of somatostatin (SRIF) while increasing bodyweight gain (BWG) and daily wool growth. In the first experiment, 30 Merino × Dorset lambs were randomly divided into three groups receiving different dosages of CSH; 0 mg/kg BW, 80 mg/kg BW daily, or 80 mg/kg BW every third day; for a period of 35 days. The effect on BWG, feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily wool growth, voluntary feed intake (VFI), and MY (g CH4/kg DM intake) were studied. Treatment with CSH daily increased BWG (P < 0.05) and daily wool growth (P < 0.05), improved FCR (P = 0.01), and reduced MY (P < 0.01). Administering CSH every 3 days increased BWG (P < 0.05) and reduced MY (P < 0.01). There was no CSH effect on VFI. In the second experiment, CSH equivalent to 80 mg/kg BW was administered once to eight Merino × Dorset lambs. Blood samples were collected at –24, –16, 0, 2, 8, 24, and 48 h of administration. Plasma concentrations of SRIF were significantly reduced (P < 0.01) within 2 h of CSH ingestion and remained at reduced levels 48 h after administration. These results show that CSH rapidly reduces plasma SRIF concentration, which is likely to leading to an increase in animal production traits while reducing enteric MY. This experiment constitutes a novel and potentially significant investigation into the control of livestock greenhouse gas emissions while increasing livestock productivity.


2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 889-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvane Barcelos Carlotto ◽  
Clair Jorge Olivo ◽  
Julio Viégas ◽  
David Arthur Stiles ◽  
Alexandre Mossate Gabbi ◽  
...  

While young ruminants prefer milk aroma and researches about this theme are being developed, the use of citric aroma, very appetized for older ruminants, are low utilized to young animals. This work aims to compare the influence of milk and citric flavor agents on the diets of nursing dairy calves. In this trial, 12 animals of Holstein breed were distributed in a randomized block design with four treatments (concentrate without flavor agent, concentrate with milk flavor or citrus flavor, and concentrate with milk plus citrus flavor agent) and three repetitions. The parameters evaluated were: concentrate dry matter intake (CDMI), hay dry matter (HDMI), milk dry matter intake (MDMI) and total dry matter intake (TDMI), average weight gain (ADWG), feed conversion (FC), initial (IBW) and final body weight (FBW), initial thoracic perimeter (ITP) and final thoracic perimeter (FTP), initial abdominal perimeter (IAP) and final abdominal perimeter (FAP), initial withers height (IWH) and final withers height (FWH) and animal behavior. The CDMI, HDMI and TDMI, as well as IBW, FBW, ITP, FTP, IAP, FAP, IWH and FWH did not show differences (P>0.05). The averages daily gain and feed conversion showed no differences, with means of 0.55 kg/animal and 2.09, respectively. The diets did not affect animal behavior parameters (P>0.05).


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