Nitrate supplementation has marginal effects on enteric methane production from Bos indicus steers fed Flinders grass (Iseilema spp.) hay, but elevates blood methaemoglobin concentrations

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Tomkins ◽  
A. J. Parker ◽  
G. Hepworth ◽  
M. J. Callaghan
Keyword(s):  
Methane Production ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Calcium Nitrate ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Elevated Concentration ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acid Concentration ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Supplement Intake

This experiment has quantified the methane abatement potential of nitrate in the context of extensively managed cattle. The experimental protocol consisted of two, 4 × 4 Latin square design using eight rumen fistulated Bos indicus steers fed Flinders grass (Iseilema spp.) hay ad libitum. The treatments were Control (nil nitrogen supplement), urea (32.5 g/day urea) and two levels of calcium nitrate: CaN1 and CaN2 (to provide 4.6 g and 7.9 g NO3/kg DM equivalent to ~0.46% and 0.80% of DM, respectively). Complete supplement intake was ensured by dosing any supplement that had not been voluntarily consumed, through the rumen fistula, 1 h after feeding. Enteric methane production was measured using open circuit respiration chambers. Methane yield (g/kg DM intake) from the CaN2 treatment tended to be lower (P < 0.07) than either the Control or urea treatments. There were no significant differences in methane yield between Control, urea or CaN1 treatments. Mean blood methaemoglobin concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher for CaN2 animals compared with the Control, urea or CaN1 treatments. In addition, a significant time effect after dosing (P < 0.001) and a significant interaction between treatment and time after dosing (P < 0.001) was apparent. Overall mean total volatile fatty acid concentration was 74.0 ± 1.53 mM with no significant treatment effect, but a significant effect for both time of sampling (3 h vs 6 h) within days and among 7 sampling days. The inclusion of calcium nitrate as a non-protein-N source significantly reduced the molar proportions of butyrate (P < 0.001), iso-butyrate (P < 0.05) and iso-valerate (P < 0.001) compared with the Control. The provision of nitrate supplements, providing both a NPN and an alternative sink for H that would otherwise support enteric methanogenesis, has some potential. In extensive grazing systems effective methane abatement strategies are required. The elevated concentration of MetHb using CaN2 suggests that the strategy of replacing urea with nitrate in supplements fed to extensively managed cattle in the northern rangelands may be inappropriate where supplement intake cannot be controlled on an individual animal basis and forage quality is seasonally variable.

An initial investigation on rumen fermentation pattern and methane emission of sheep offered diets containing urea or nitrate as the nitrogen source

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 653 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Li ◽  
J. Davis ◽  
J. Nolan ◽  
R. Hegarty
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acid ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Calcium Nitrate ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acid Concentration ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Fermentation Pattern

The effects of dietary nitrate and of urea on rumen fermentation pattern and enteric methane production were investigated using 4-month-old ewe lambs. Ten lambs were allocated into two groups (n = 5) and each group was offered one of two isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing either 1.5% urea (T1) or 3% calcium nitrate (T2). Methane production was estimated using open-circuit respiration chambers after 6 weeks of feeding. No difference in nitrogen (N) balance, apparent digestibility of N or microbial N outflow existed between treatments (P > 0.05). Animals offered the T2 diet lost less energy through methane than did those fed the T1 diet (P < 0.05). Total volatile fatty acid concentration, molar proportion of propionate, and the molar ratio of acetate to propionate in rumen fluid were not affected by dietary N source. Compared with urea inclusion, nitrate inclusion caused a significantly higher acetate and lower butyrate percentage in rumen volatile fatty acid. Nitrate supplementation tended to lower methane production by ~7.7 L/day relative to urea supplementation (P = 0.06). Methane yield (L/kg DM intake) was reduced (P < 0.05) by 35.4% when 1.5% urea was replaced by 3% calcium nitrate in the diet. Emission intensity (L methane/kg liveweight gain) was ~17.3% lower in the nitrate-supplemented sheep when compared with urea-fed sheep; however, the reduction was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). This study confirms that the presence of nitrate in the diet inhibits enteric methane production. As no clinical symptoms of nitrite toxicity were observed and sheep receiving nitrate-supplemented diet had similar growth to those consuming urea-supplemented diet, it is concluded that 3% calcium nitrate can replace 1.5% urea as a means of meeting ruminal N requirements and of reducing enteric methane emissions from sheep, provided animals are acclimated to nitrate gradually.

scholarly journals Measurement of Enteric Methane Emissions by the SF6 Technique Is Not Affected by Ambient Weather Conditions

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 528
Author(s):  
Peter J. Moate ◽  
Jennie E. Pryce ◽  
Leah C. Marett ◽  
Josie B. Garner ◽  
Matthew H. Deighton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Weather Factors ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Enteric Methane

Despite the fact that the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique was developed over 25 years ago to measure methane production from grazing and non-housed animals, no studies have specifically investigated whether ambient wind speed, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall influence the accuracy of the method. The aim of this research was to investigate how these weather factors influence the measurement of enteric methane production by the SF6 technique. Six different cohorts of dairy cows (40 per cohort) were kept outdoors and fed a common diet during spring in 3 consecutive years. Methane production from individual cows was measured daily over the last 5 days of each 32-day period. An automated weather station measured air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and rainfall every 10 min. Regression analyses were used to relate the average daily wind speed, average daily temperature, average daily relative humidity and total daily rainfall measurements to dry matter intake, average daily methane production and methane yield of each cohort of cows. It was concluded that the modified SF6 technique can be used outdoors during a range of wind speeds, ambient temperatures, relative humidities and rainfall conditions without causing a significant effect on the measurement of methane production or methane yield of dairy cows.

Effect of feeding forage characteristic of wet- or dry-season tropical C4 grass in northern Australia, on methane production, intake and rumen outflow rates in Bos indicus steers

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 2033 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Perry ◽  
R. Al Jassim ◽  
J. B. Gaughan ◽  
N. W. Tomkins
Keyword(s):  
Methane Production ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Total N ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Brahman Steers

Methane production (MP) from Bos indicus steers fed Chloris gayana hay characteristic of the ‘dry season’ (LQH), and a fresh Urochloa mosambicensis grass (PAS) or a C. gayana hay (HQH) characteristic of the ‘wet’ season was determined. A longitudinal feeding trial incorporated a 42-day covariate period (P1) in which Brahman steers (total n = 12) were fed ad libitum LQH (g/kg DM: crude protein (CP) 25; acid detergent fibre expressed exclusive of residual ash (ADFom) 487; DM digestibility (DMD) 380) followed by a 42-day treatment period where steers (n = 4 in each) were randomly assigned to PAS, HQH or remained on LQH (control). The diet composition in P2 was HQH (g/kg DM: CP 88; ADFom 376; DMD 590), PAS (g/kg DM: CP 90; ADFom 324; DMD 630) and LQH (g/kg DM: CP 31; ADFom 461; DMD 410). For each period, on Days 35–41, individual dry-matter intakes (DMI), rumen fermentation parameters and both fluid and particulate fractional rumen outflow rates were measured. On Days 41 and 42, MP was determined using open-circuit respiration chambers. There were diet effects on MP, DMI, volatile fatty acids, and ammonia-N. Both PAS- and HQH-fed steers had greater MP (g/day; P < 0.05) and DMI (P < 0.05) than did those fed LQH, but a lower MP per kilogram DMI digested. The use of predictive equations compared with measured data confirmed prior observations that MP from tropical grasses in the northern Australian rangelands may be overestimated using the current equations for greenhouse gas accounting.

Use of infrared thermography to estimate enteric methane production in dairy heifers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Alexandre M. Gabbi ◽  
Giovani J. Kolling ◽  
Vivian Fischer ◽  
Luiz Gustavo R. Pereira ◽  
Thierry R. Tomich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Thermography ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Enteric Methane

scholarly journals Enhancing methane production from the invasive macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae through anaerobic co-digestion with olive mill solid waste: process performance and kinetic analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. de la Lama-Calvente ◽  
M. J. Fernández-Rodríguez ◽  
J. Llanos ◽  
J. M. Mancilla-Leytón ◽  
R. Borja
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Specific Rate ◽  
Order Kinetic ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
First Order ◽  
Olive Mill Solid Waste ◽  
Olive Mill

AbstractThe biomass valorisation of the invasive brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) is key to curbing the expansion of this invasive macroalga which is generating tonnes of biomass on southern Spain beaches. As a feasible alternative for the biomass management, anaerobic co-digestion is proposed in this study. Although the anaerobic digestion of macroalgae barely produced 177 mL of CH4 g−1 VS, the co-digestion with a C-rich substrate, such as the olive mill solid waste (OMSW, the main waste derived from the two-phase olive oil manufacturing process), improved the anaerobic digestion process. The mixture improved not only the methane yield, but also its biodegradability. The highest biodegradability was found in the mixture 1 R. okamurae—1 OMSW, which improved the biodegradability of the macroalgae by 12.9% and 38.1% for the OMSW. The highest methane yield was observed for the mixture 1 R. okamurae—3 OMSW, improving the methane production of macroalgae alone by 157% and the OMSW methane production by 8.6%. Two mathematical models were used to fit the experimental data of methane production time with the aim of assessing the processes and obtaining the kinetic constants of the anaerobic co-digestion of different combination of R. okamurae and OMSW and both substrates independently. First-order kinetic and the transference function models allowed for appropriately fitting the experimental results of methane production with digestion time. The specific rate constant, k (first-order model) for the mixture 1 R. okamurae- 1.5 OMSW, was 5.1 and 1.3 times higher than that obtained for the mono-digestion of single OMSW and the macroalga, respectively. In the same way, the transference function model revealed that the maximum methane production rate (Rmax) was also found for the mixture 1 R. okamurae—1.5 OMSW (30.4 mL CH4 g−1 VS day−1), which was 1.6 and 2.2 times higher than the corresponding to the mono-digestions of the single OMSW and sole R. okamurae (18.9 and 13.6 mL CH4 g−1 VS day−1), respectively.

scholarly journals Reducing enteric methane production from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) by garlic oil supplementation in in vitro rumen fermentation system

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Avijit Dey ◽  
Shyam Sundar Paul ◽  
Puran Chand Lailer ◽  
Satbir Singh Dahiya
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Bubalus Bubalis ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Acetyl Esterase ◽  
Garlic Oil ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
In Vitro Rumen Fermentation

AbstractEnteric methane production contributes significantly to the greenhouse gas emission globally. Although, buffaloes are integral part of livestock production in Asian countries, contributing milk, meat and draft power, the contribution of enteric methane to environmental pollution attracts attention. The present study investigated the efficacy of garlic (Allium sativum) oil in reducing enteric methane production from buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) by in vitro rumen fermentation. Garlic oil (GOL) was tested at four concentrations [0 (Control), 33.33 µl (GOL-1), 83.33 µl (GOL-2) and 166.66 µl (GOL-3) per litre of buffered rumen fluid] in 100-ml graduated glass syringes and incubated at 39℃ for 24 h for in vitro rumen fermentation study. Supplementation of GOL-1 increased (p < 0.05) total gas production in comparison with GOL-3; however, it remained comparable (p > 0.05) with control and GOL-2. Graded doses of garlic oil inclusions reduced (p < 0.001) methane concentration (%) in total gas and total methane production (ml/g DM), irrespective of concentrations. The feed degradability, volatile fatty acids and microbial biomass production (MBP) were not affected (p > 0.05) by GOL-1, but these tended to decrease in GOL-2 with marked reduction (p < 0.01) in GOL-3. The decrease (p < 0.01) in NH3–N concentration in fermentation fluid in the presence of garlic oil, irrespective of concentration, suggests reduced deamination by inhibiting rumen proteolytic bacterial population. The activities of ruminal fibrolytic enzymes (CMCase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, acetyl esterase) were not affected by lower dose (GOL-1) of garlic oil; however, reduction (p < 0.05) of these enzymes activity in rumen liquor was evident at higher doses (GOL-2 and GOL-3) of supplementation. This study shows positive impact of garlic oil supplementation at low dose (33.33 µl/l of rumen fluid) in reducing enteric methane production, thereby, abatement of environmental pollution without affecting feed digestibility.

78 Predicting enteric methane production from the rumen microbial composition of beef steers fed either a high concentrate or cut grass diet

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Gemma Miller ◽  
Marc Auffret ◽  
Rainer Roehe ◽  
Holly Nisbet ◽  
Marina Martínez-Alvaro
Keyword(s):  
Methane Production ◽  
Beef Steers ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Enteric Methane

Forage brassica: a feed to mitigate enteric methane emissions?

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuezhao Sun ◽  
David Pacheco ◽  
Dongwen Luo
Keyword(s):  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Winter Crop ◽  
Feeding Trials ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Forage Rape ◽  
Pastoral Farming ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

A series of experiments was conducted in New Zealand to evaluate the potential of forage brassicas for mitigation of enteric methane emissions. Experiments involved sheep and cattle fed winter and summer varieties of brassica forage crops. In the sheep-feeding trials, it was demonstrated that several species of forage brassicas can result, to a varying degree, in a lower methane yield (g methane per kg of DM intake) than does ryegrass pasture. Pure forage rape fed as a winter crop resulted in 37% lower methane yields than did pasture. Increasing the proportion of forage rape in the diet of sheep fed pasture linearly decreased methane yield. Feeding forage rape to cattle also resulted in 44% lower methane yield than did feeding pasture. In conclusion, reductions in methane emission are achievable by feeding forage brassicas, especially winter forage rape, to sheep and cattle. Investigating other aspects of these crops is warranted to establish their value as a viable mitigation tool in pastoral farming.

scholarly journals Feeding saponin-containing Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria to decrease enteric methane production in dairy cows

2009 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 2809-2821 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Holtshausen ◽  
A.V. Chaves ◽  
K.A. Beauchemin ◽  
S.M. McGinn ◽  
T.A. McAllister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Quillaja Saponaria ◽  
Yucca Schidigera ◽  
Enteric Methane

scholarly journals Forage quality declines with rising temperatures, with implications for livestock production and methane emissions

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1403-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Lee ◽  
Aaron P. Davis ◽  
Mizeck G. G. Chagunda ◽  
Pete Manning
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Forage Plants ◽  
Model Average ◽  
Enteric Methane

Abstract. Livestock numbers are increasing to supply the growing demand for meat-rich diets. The sustainability of this trend has been questioned, and future environmental changes, such as climate change, may cause some regions to become less suitable for livestock. Livestock and wild herbivores are strongly dependent on the nutritional chemistry of forage plants. Nutrition is positively linked to weight gains, milk production and reproductive success, and nutrition is also a key determinant of enteric methane production. In this meta-analysis, we assessed the effects of growing conditions on forage quality by compiling published measurements of grass nutritive value and combining these data with climatic, edaphic and management information. We found that forage nutritive value was reduced at higher temperatures and increased by nitrogen fertiliser addition, likely driven by a combination of changes to species identity and changes to physiology and phenology. These relationships were combined with multiple published empirical models to estimate forage- and temperature-driven changes to cattle enteric methane production. This suggested a previously undescribed positive climate change feedback, where elevated temperatures reduce grass nutritive value and correspondingly may increase methane production by 0.9 % with a 1 °C temperature rise and 4.5 % with a 5 °C rise (model average), thus creating an additional climate forcing effect. Future methane production increases are expected to be largest in parts of North America, central and eastern Europe and Asia, with the geographical extent of hotspots increasing under a high emissions scenario. These estimates require refinement and a greater knowledge of the abundance, size, feeding regime and location of cattle, and the representation of heat stress should be included in future modelling work. However, our results indicate that the cultivation of more nutritious forage plants and reduced livestock farming in warming regions may reduce this additional source of pastoral greenhouse gas emissions.

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