Effects of grain supplementation on methane production of grazing steers using the sulphur (SF6) tracer gas technique

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Boadi ◽  
K. M. Wittenberg ◽  
W. McCaughey

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of supplemental grain on methane (CH4) production of grazing steers. Eight beef steers (344.6 ± 6.4 kg) were assigned to legume-grass pasture (C; n = 4) or legume-grass pasture plusa rolled barley supplement (S; n = 4). In a completely randomized design with repeated measures, CH4 output was measured for two 24-h periods, using the SF6 tracer gas technique as steers entered (IN) and exited (OUT) paddocks. Two, 4 and 4 kg of rolled-barley grain was fed daily to S steersduring the EARLY, MID and LATE periods of the grazing season, respectively. Supplementation reduced forage dry matter intake (DMI) by 11% (P = 0.03) and increased total organic matter intake (TOMI) by 14% (P = 0.001). Daily CH4 production was similar for C and S steers (P > 0.05). Methane production, increased (P < 0.05) from 256 L d-1 in the EARLY period to 364 L d-1 at the MID and 342 L d-1 at the LATE period. Energy lost as CH4, % total gross energy intake (TGEI) ranged from 4.7 to 8.4% (mean 6.5 ± 0.3%) during the grazing season, and there was no difference between S (6.4 ± 0.6%) and C (6.7 ± 0.6%) steers (P = 0.71). Methane production declined with grazing on high-quality forages; steers on EARLY pastures had 44% and 29% lower (P < 0.05) energy loss as CH4 than animals on MID and LATE pastures, respectively. There was also a 54% lower CH4 loss when animals entered new paddocks relative to those exiting the paddocks (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that the effects of supplementation on CH4 production were marginal in grazing steers. The study suggests that pasture quality plays a major role in the extent to which CH4 production can be reduced with grain supplementation in grazing animals. Key words: Methane, grazing steers, grain supplementation, pasture quality

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Boadi ◽  
K. M. Wittenberg ◽  
S. L. Scott ◽  
D. Burton ◽  
K. Buckley ◽  
...  

The objectives of this study were to assess enteric methane (CH4) production by beef steers fed one of two isocaloric diets with different forage:grain ratios and to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from bedded manure packs in the eight feedlot pens holding these steers (14 head pen-1). Five animals (252 ± 20 kg) in each pen were randomly selected for measurement of CH4 emissions over the course of the 126-d feeding trial. Two 24-h gas collections were completed for each steer in each of three collection periods using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique. The fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from bedding packs were measured using vented static chambers in each sampling period. Methane production (L d-1) was 42% higher (P < 0.05) from steers fed the low forage:grain ratio than from steers fed the high forage:grain ratio. Overall, methane production (% of gross energy intake) ranged from 0.9 to 6.9% on the low forage:grain diet and from 0.7 to 4.9% on the high forage:grain diet. Daily CH4 emissions were similar in the first two periods and increased during the third sampling period. There was no effect of diet on manure pack temperature during sampling, however, the manure pack was deeper (P < 0.05) in pens holding animals fed the high forage:grain diet. Furthermore, diet had no effect on the manure pack fluxes. Total daily non-CO2 emissions from enteric and manure pack sources (CO2 equivalent) were different (P < 0.05) between dietary treatments and averaged 1931 ± 81 g head-1 d-1 for the low forage:grain and 1394 ± 81 g head-1 d-1 for the high forage:grain diet. Key words: Feedlot steers, greenhouse gases, enteric fermentation, manure packs


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Andrea M Osorio Doblado ◽  
Sebastian E Mejia-Turcios ◽  
Miranda K Stotz ◽  
David Vargas ◽  
Rafael Canonenco de Araujo ◽  
...  

Abstract The effects of encapsulated calcium-ammonium nitrate (eCAN) on in vivo methane production and performance were evaluated. A generalized randomized block design was used with beef steers grazing a mixed winter forage (Triticum aestivum, Triticosecale rimpaui, and Secale cereale) for 49 d. Thirty-six Angus-crossbred steers (332 ± 53 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) winter pasture + corn (WC), 2) WC + 328 mg/kg of BW eCAN (WCN) and 3) WC + 124 mg/kg of BW UREA (WCU), all supplemented with corn (0.3% BW treatments). Treatments WCN and WCU were isonitrogenous. A 14d adaptation period was used to adapt cattle to treatments. Methane emissions were measured using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique. Blood samples and BW were taken at d 0, 24, 35, and 49. Supplemental corn and NPN orts were collected daily. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with the fixed effect of treatment and random effect of pasture (block); BUN, supplement intake and CP intake were analyzed with repeated measures. Steer was considered the experimental unit. Methane production was not different (P &gt; 0.05) considering g/d, g/kg of BW, g/kg of MBW, or g/kg of ADG. Treatments did not affect ADG (P = 0.941). Supplement intake was affected by treatment (P &lt; 0.001), with WC (0.979 kg) being greater compared to WCU (0.887 kg) and WCN (0.706 kg). Total CP intake increased (P &lt; 0.001) with WCU (0.155 kg) and WCN (0.116 kg), compared to WC (0.074 kg), which did not have a non-protein source. Blood urea nitrogen was affected by day, with d 24 (18.598 mg/dL) being greater compared to d 0 (8.215 mg/dL), 35 (10.549 mg/dL) and 49 (14.5744 mg/dL). The eCAN did not effectively replace urea as a NPN source to mitigate enteric methane.


2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel O. Ribeiro ◽  
Alex M. Teixeira ◽  
Frederico O. Velasco ◽  
Wilson G. Faria ◽  
Diogo G. Jayme ◽  
...  

Ribeiro Jr., G. A., Teixeira, A. M., Velasco, F. O., Faria Jr., W. G., Jayme, D. G., Maurício, R. M., Gonçalves, L. C. and McAllister, T. A. 2015. Methane production and energy partitioning in sheep fed Andropogon gayanus grass ensiled at three regrowth stages. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 103–110. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of harvesting Andropogon gayanus at different regrowth stages (56, 84 and 112 d) on the nutritional value of silage and CH4emissions from sheep. Rams (n=18) were adapted to silages for 21 d after which intake and digestibility were measured over 5 d in a completely randomized design (six rams/treatment). Heat production and methane emissions from each ram were measured in a respiration chamber over 24 h. Silage dry matter (DM; 54.4 g kg−1BW0.75d−1) intake was not influenced (P>0.05) by silage regrowth stage, but apparent DM digestibility linearly decreased (P<0.05) from 526 to 380 g kg−1with increasing regrowth. Energy lost as a percent of gross energy intake (GEI) linearly increased with longer regrowth, yet no effect on CH4losses (as% GEI; g kg−1DM; g kg−1digestible DM) or heat production were observed. Ensiling A. gayanus grass at an earlier regrowth stage (56 d) will improve silage quality, but improvements in the energetic value are not due to a reduction in enteric CH4emissions as a% GEI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 29-30
Author(s):  
Kirsten Nickles ◽  
Alejandro E Relling ◽  
Anthony J Parker

Abstract Beef calves express behaviors such as walking and vocalizing to a greater extend during weaning. These behaviors increase production costs due to compromised calf growth, health, and welfare. Oxytocin treatment reduces anxious behaviors and attenuates the HPA axis, thus the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of oxytocin on calf growth, cortisol, and distance walked at weaning. A total of 20 Angus x Simmental heifer calves were randomly allotted to each treatment group (n = 10), intranasal oxytocin or saline (OXT, CON). All calves were administered the respective intranasal treatment at weaning (day 0), and then placed in the same pasture. Calves were weighed and blood sampled on days 0, 1, 7, and 14. Blood samples were used to quantify non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate, and cortisol. Each heifer was fitted with a global positioning system collar that recorded calf location every 10 seconds for 16 h on days 0, 7, and 14. To further evaluate calf behavior, observations were made on days 0, 7, and 14 using instantaneous scan sampling from 0730 to 0830, 1200 to 1300, and 1700 to 1800 h. Data were analyzed using a completely randomized design with repeated measures model (SAS 9.4). Providing calves with intranasal oxytocin on the day of weaning did not have an effect on the distance walked, observed behavior, body weight, β-hydroxybutyrate, or cortisol concentrations, however, there was a day effect (P &lt; 0.05) for these variables. Intranasal oxytocin treatment did affect NEFA concentrations, as calves in the CON group had greater NEFA concentrations on day 1 compared with calves in the OXT group (P &lt; 0.05). These data imply that intranasal oxytocin could have the capacity to decrease mobilization of NEFA, but this change was not enough to affect body weight 14 days after weaning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Gemma Miller ◽  
Marc Auffret ◽  
Rainer Roehe ◽  
Holly Nisbet ◽  
Marina Martínez-Alvaro

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 152-153
Author(s):  
Aubree M Beenken ◽  
Erin L Deters ◽  
Colten W Dornbach ◽  
Stephanie L Hansen ◽  
Joshua C McCann ◽  
...  

Abstract Ninety-one early-weaned (65 ± 11 d) Angus steers (92 ± 4 kg) were blocked by age to a 2 × 2 factorial examining effects of injectable vitamin C (VC) at weaning and/or prior to transport to the feedlot on antibody titers and growth performance. Injections (20 mL/steer) of VC (250 mg sodium ascorbate/mL) or saline (SAL) were given at time of weaning on d 0 (WEAN) and/or prior to a 6 hr trucking event to a feedlot on d 49 (TRANS). Steers were given booster vaccinations on d 0. Steers were weighed on d 0, 1, 14, 48, 49, 64, 106, and 107. Blood was collected (12 steers/treatment) on d 0, 1, 2, 14, 49 (pre- and post-transit), 50, and 51. Data were analyzed via Proc-Mixed of SAS (experimental unit = steer; n = 22–23/treatment) with fixed effects of block, WEAN, TRANS, and WEAN × TRANS. Plasma ascorbate concentrations for weaning (d 0, 1, and 2) and transit (d 49-pre-trucking, 49-post-trucking, 50, and 51) were analyzed as repeated measures (repeated effect = day). Plasma ascorbate concentrations were greater on d 1 and 2 for steers that received VC at weaning (VC = 19.6, SAL = 8.8 ± 1.26 µM; WEAN × day P &lt; 0.01). Similarly, ascorbate concentrations were greater on d 49 post-trucking, 50, and 51 for steers that received VC pre-transit (TRANS × day P = 0.01). Treatments did not affect bodyweight or average daily gain throughout the trial (P &gt; 0.32). There were no effects of treatment on serum Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus type 2 antibody titers on d 14 or 51 (P &gt; 0.33). An injection of VC administered to early weaned beef steers at weaning or pre-transit increases plasma ascorbate concentrations but does not improve growth performance or antibody response to vaccination booster.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 239-239
Author(s):  
Shane Newton ◽  
Payton Dahmer ◽  
Larry Corah ◽  
Keith Harmoney ◽  
John Jaeger ◽  
...  

Abstract Historic data supports the use of pre-weaning implants to maximize beef calf weaning weight, but their use has declined over the recent decade. A total of 96 beef steers (initially 85.2 kg BW and &gt; 45 d of age) were used in a 168-d study to evaluate the effects of Synovex C® implantation during suckling on pre-weaning calf growth performance. At initial processing, calves were individually weighed and allotted in a completely randomized design to one of two treatments: 1) not implanted (control) or 2) implanted with 150 mg of trenbolone acetate and 21 mg of estradiol benzoate (SYNOVEX® ONE GRASS, Zoetis, Kalamazoo, MI). All calves were weighed on d 0 (implantation), 83, 126 and 168 (weaning), with ADG calculated for each period. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS (v9.4, Cary, NC). There were 48 replicates per treatment, with grazing location as a random effect. While there were no detected differences in BW during the initial phases (P &gt; 0.10), implanted calves tended to have greater (P = 0.100) greater weaning weight than non-implanted calves (279 vs. 265 kg, respectively). Calves implanted with SYNOVEX® ONE GRASS had 0.8, 0.12, and 0.16 kg/d greater (P &lt; 0.05) ADG than those that were not implanted in all three phases. This resulted in an average of 0.10 kg/d greater (P = 0.002) ADG in implanted calves overall compared to the control. In conclusion, this research showed significant increases in suckling calf ADG in implanted calves compared to their non-implanted counterparts, which led to a tendency for 14-kg greater weaning weights. Additional research is warranted to consider the post-weaning growth and impact of re-implanting, but this data reinforces previous literature that suckling calf implantation continues to be cost effective for cow-calf producers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Andrea M Osorio ◽  
Kaue T Tonelli Nardi ◽  
Igor Gomes Fávero ◽  
Kaliu G Scaranto Silva ◽  
Kymberly D Coello ◽  
...  

Abstract The effects of a nutritional packet were evaluated on CH4 emissions and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of feedlot beef steers. Thirty Angus-crossbred steers (BW = 542 ± 8.4 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design and allocated into pens equipped with SmartFeed (C-Lock; 15 steers/treatment). Steers were consuming a steam-flaked corn-based diet (88% concentrate DM basis) ad libitum for the last 65 d on feed, and received the following treatments: 1) control and 2) a nutritional packet [0.29% DM basis; live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 8.7 Log CFU/g); Vitamin C (5.4 g/kg); Vitamin B1 (13.33 g/kg); NaCl (80 g/kg); KCl (80 g/kg)]. Methane emissions and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility were measured during 3 periods with 5-d of collections each. Gas emissions from steers were measured utilizing the SF6 tracer technique. Feed and fecal samples were collected once and twice (0700 h and 1600 h) daily, respectively, to determine digestibility of nutrients using iNDF as an internal marker. Steer was considered the experimental unit. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the MIXED procedure of SAS with the fixed effects of treatment, period, and their interaction, and the random effect of block. No treatment × period interactions (P ≥ 0.125) were observed for DMI and any of the CH4 production variables (g/day, g/kg BW0.75, g/nutrient intake, and g/nutrient digested). Moreover, treatments did not affect digestibility of DM, OM, or ADF (P ≥ 0.300); however, digestibility of NDF was increased for treated cattle (P = 0.013), which resulted in a tendency (P = 0.098) to decrease CH4 production in g per kg NDF intake and decreased (P = 0.020) grams CH4 per kg NDF digested. The nutritional packet may be altering ruminal fermentation on intensively managed steers and improving fiber digestibility, which can have benefits on CH4 emission intensity.


1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Frisby ◽  
Schuyler D. Seeley

We compared peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cv. Johnson Elberta] seed germination (G) and seedling emergence (E) after various stratification (St) treatments. Treatments were arranged in factorial combinations of five St durations (20 to 60 days) at eight constant temperatures (0 to 18C) in a completely randomized design followed by repeated measures during forcing time. G and E were recorded every 5 days during forcing. Seed St at 0 to 10C and 0 to 14C promoted G and E, respectively. G and E increased with longer St treatments at promoting temperatures. There was a weak correlation between G and E averaged over the forcing measurements (r2 = 0.54). The best correlation was between E after 15 days and G after 10 days (r2 = 0.83). The results indicate that G and E in peach are not identical indicators of endodormancy (ED) release and should not be used interchangeably. Forcing times must be considered when making comparisons between G and E.


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