Search

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) supplementation on enteric methane (CH 4 ) emissions, carbon footprint, and production parameters in dairy cows. Daily concentrate supply for Jersey and Jersey * Holstein breeds was evaluated in four treatments (T): T1: 100% commercial concentrate; T2: 70% concentrate + 30% cassava leaves; T3: 70% concentrate + 30% cassava roots; and T4: 70% concentrate + 15% cassava leaves + 15% cassava root chips. Measurements of CH 4 emissions were performed using the polytunnel technique. Average daily dry matter intake ranged from 7.8 to 8.5 kg dry matter (DM). Cassava leaves were characterized by a high crude protein (CP) content (171 g CP/kg DM), with 5 times more neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content than cassava root (587 vs. 108 g NDF/kg DM). Average enteric CH 4 emissions per animal ranged from 194 to 234 g/d ( p > 0.05 ). The carbon footprint was reduced by replacing 30% of the concentrate with cassava leaves and/or roots. Energy-corrected milk production was 1.15 times higher in Jersey * Holstein animals than Jersey cows (47 vs. 55 kg). Therefore, supplementation with cassava leaves and/or roots is a nutritionally and environmentally sustainable strategy.

During the dry and rainy seasons of the Northeastern Zone of Peru, a chemical characterization of five species of bamboo prevalent in the area (Guadua lynnclarkiae, G. takahashiae, Bambusa vulgaris, G. weberbaueri, and Dendrocalamus asper) was conducted. Then, the effect of supplementing bamboo leaves (0, 20, and 40% inclusion of D. asper) on the intake and live weight gain of 18 Gyr × Holstein heifers was evaluated for 28 days. Among the species evaluated, D. asper has the greatest crude protein (CP) concentration (158-166 g/kg Dry matter- DM), post-ruminal CP supply (127 g/kg DM), and in vitro organic matter digestibility (444-456 g/kg DM) but similar concentrations of crude ash (124 g/kg DM), calcium (2.4-2.8 mg/g), phosphorus (0.7-2.1 mg/g), protein fractions A, B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , C (45, 5, 35, 56, and 17g/kg DM, respectively), rumen-undegraded CP (31% CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, 685g/kg DM), and acid detergent fiber (ADF, 357 g/kg DM) than the other species evaluated. Dry matter intake was higher in the control treatment and in the 20% bamboo leaf inclusion treatment than in the 40% bamboo inclusion treatment. Intake of CP and NDF decreased with the increase in bamboo inclusion. Despite the differences in DM, CP, and NDF intake, the live weight gain remained similar across treatments. However, there was a greater feed conversion in the 20% bamboo leaf inclusion treatment. During the dry season, bamboo leaves can be used as an alternative supplement at a maximum inclusion of 20% without affecting the live weight gain., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

On-farm methane (CH 4 ) emissions need to be estimated accurately so that the mitigation effect of recommended practices can be accounted for. In the present study prediction equations for enteric CH 4 have been developed in lieu of expensive animal measurement approaches. Our objectives were to: (1) compile a dataset from individual beef cattle data for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region; (2) determine main predictors of CH 4 emission variables; (3) develop and cross-validate prediction models according to dietary forage content (DFC); and (4) compare the predictive ability of these newly-developed models with extant equations reported in literature, including those currently used for CH 4 inventories in LAC countries. After outlier's screening, 1100 beef cattle observations from 55 studies were kept in the final dataset (∼ 50 % of the original dataset). Mixed-effects models were fitted with a random effect of study. The whole dataset was split according to DFC into a subset for all-forage (DFC = 100 %), high-forage (94 % ≥ DFC ≥ 54 %), and low-forage (50 % ≥ DFC) diets. Feed intake and average daily gain (ADG) were the main predictors of CH 4 emission (g d -1 ), whereas this was feeding level [dry matter intake (DMI) as % of body weight] for CH 4 yield (g kg -1 DMI). The newly-developed models were more accurate than IPCC Tier 2 equations for all subsets. Simple and multiple regression models including ADG were accurate and a feasible option to predict CH 4 emission when data on feed intake are not available. Methane yield was not well predicted by any extant equation in contrast to the newly-developed models. The present study delivered new models that may be alternatives for the IPCC Tier 2 equations to improve CH 4 prediction for beef cattle in inventories of LAC countries based either on more or less readily available data., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study aims to establish the relationship between chemical composition and in vitro methane (CH 4 ) production of high Andean grasses. For this purpose, eight species were collected in dry and rainy seasons: Alchemilla pinnata , Distichia muscoides , Carex ecuadorica , Hipochoeris taraxacoides , Mulhenbergia fastigiata , Mulhenbergia peruviana , Stipa brachiphylla and Stipa mucronata . They were chemically analyzed and incubated under an in vitro system. Species such as A. pinnata and H. taraxacoides were characterized by high crude protein (CP. 124 g/kg DM) and low neutral detergent fiber (NDF. 293 g/kg DM) contents in both seasons, contrary to Stipa grasses. This same pattern was obtained for H. taraxacoides , which presented the highest values of gas production, organic matter digestibility (DOM), metabolizable energy (ME) and CH 4 production (241 mL/g DM, 59% DOM, 8.4 MJ ME/kg DM and 37.7 mL CH 4 /g DM, on average). For most species, the content of CP, acid detergent fiber (FDA) and ME was higher in the rainy season than in the dry season, which was the opposite for CH 4 production ( p ≥ 0.05). In general, the nutritional content that most explained the behavior of CH 4 production was the NDF content (R 2 = 0.69). Grasses characterized by high NDF content produced less CH 4 (R = -0.85).

The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro fermentation and methane (CH 4 ) production in the grass Brachiaria brizantha (B) alone or when mixed with Gliricidia sepium forage (G) and/or Enterolobium cyclocarpum pods (E). Theses substrates were incubated in the following proportions: B100 (B100%), B85E15 (B85% + E15%), B85G15 (B85% + G15%), B85GE15 (B85% + G7.5% + E7.5%), and B70GE30 (B70% + G15% + E15%). Dry matter degradation (DMD), volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, and CH 4 production were measured at 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation. Experimental design was a randomized complete block. At 48-h incubation, DMD ranged between 46.5 and 51.2% (P = 0.0015). The lowest cumulative gas production (CGP) was observed in B85E15 and B85G15 (160 mL CGP/g organic matter, on average). At 48 h, B85G15 and B100 produced 28.8 and 30.2 mg CH4/g DMD, respectively, while B85E15 or the mixtures, 33.5 mg CH 4 /g DMD, on average (P ≤ 0.05). B85E15 and B70G30 had the highest concentration of total VFA (P ≤ 0.05). Results showed that B85E15 and B70GE30 favor DMD and increased total production of VFA and CH 4 at 48 h. Supplementing livestock feed with legume forages and pods allows improves the nutritional quality of the diet and the fermentation patterns.

Methane (CH 4 ) emissions from enteric fermentation in cattle are an important source of greenhouse gases, accounting for about 40% of all agricultural emissions. Diet quality plays a fundamental role in determining the magnitude of CH 4 emissions. Specifically, the inclusion of feeds with high digestibility and nutritional value have been reported to be a viable option for reducing CH 4 emissions and, simultaneously, increase animal productivity. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the nutritional composition and voluntary intake of diets based on tropical forages upon CH 4 emissions from zebu steers. Five treatments (diets) were evaluated: Cay1: Urochloa hybrid cv. Cayman (harvested after 65 days of regrowth: low quality); Cay2: cv. Cayman harvested after 45 days of regrowth; CayLl: cv. Cayman + Leucaena leucocephala ; CayLd: cv. Cayman + Leucaena diversifolia ; Hay: Dichantium aristatum hay as a comparator of common naturalized pasture. For each diet representing different levels of intensification (naturalized pasture, improved pasture, and silvopastoral systems), CH 4 emissions were measured using the polytunnel technique with four zebu steers housed in individual chambers. The CH 4 accumulated was monitored using an infrared multigas analyzer, and the voluntary forage intake of each animal was calculated. Dry matter intake (DMI, % of body weight) ranged between 0.77 and 2.94 among diets offered. Emissions of CH 4 per kg of DMI were significantly higher ( P < 0.0001 ) in Cay1 (60.4 g), compared to other treatments. Diets that included Leucaena forage legumes had generally higher crude protein contents and higher DMI. Cay1 and Hay which had low protein content and digestibility had a higher CH 4 emission intensity (per unit live weight gain) compared to Cay2, CayLl and CayLd. Our results suggest that grass consumed after a regrowth period of 45 days results in lower CH 4 emissions intensities compared to those observed following a regrowth period of 65 days. Diets with Leucaena inclusion showed advantages in nutrient intake that are reflected in greater live weight gains of cattle. Consequently, the intensity of the emissions generated in the legume-based systems were lower suggesting that they are a good option for achieving the emission reduction goals of sustainable tropical cattle production., (Copyright © 2020 Gaviria-Uribe, Bolivar, Rosenstock, Molina-Botero, Chirinda, Barahona and Arango.)

Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas (GHG) produced and released by eructation to the atmosphere in large volumes by ruminants. Enteric CH4 contributes significantly to global GHG emissions arising from animal agriculture. It has been contended that tropical grasses produce higher emissions of enteric CH4 than temperate grasses, when they are fed to ruminants. A number of experiments have been performed in respiration chambers and head-boxes to assess the enteric CH4 mitigation potential of foliage and pods of tropical plants, as well as nitrates (NO3-) and vegetable oils in practical rations for cattle. On the basis of individual determinations of enteric CH4 carried out in respiration chambers, the average CH4 yield for cattle fed low-quality tropical grasses (>70% ration DM) was 17.0 g CH4/kg DM intake. Results showed that when foliage and ground pods of tropical trees and shrubs were incorporated in cattle rations, methane yield (g CH4/kg DM intake) was decreased by 10% to 25%, depending on plant species and level of intake of the ration. Incorporation of nitrates and vegetable oils in the ration decreased enteric CH4 yield by ∼6% to ∼20%, respectively. Condensed tannins, saponins and starch contained in foliages, pods and seeds of tropical trees and shrubs, as well as nitrates and vegetable oils, can be fed to cattle to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions under smallholder conditions. Strategies for enteric CH4 mitigation in cattle grazing low-quality tropical forages can effectively increase productivity while decreasing enteric CH4 emissions in absolute terms and per unit of product (e.g. meat, milk), thus reducing the contribution of ruminants to GHG emissions and therefore to climate change.

The rumen microbiome plays a fundamental role in all ruminant species, it is involved in health, nutrient utilization, detoxification, and methane emissions. Methane is a greenhouse gas which is eructated in large volumes by ruminants grazing extensive grasslands in the tropical regions of the world. Enteric methane is the largest contributor to the emissions of greenhouse gases originating from animal agriculture. A large variety of plants containing secondary metabolites [essential oils (terpenoids), tannins, saponins, and flavonoids] have been evaluated as cattle feedstuffs and changes in volatile fatty acid proportions and methane synthesis in the rumen have been assessed. Alterations to the rumen microbiome may lead to changes in diversity, composition, and structure of the methanogen community. Legumes containing condensed tannins such as Leucaena leucocephala have shown a good methane mitigating effect when fed at levels of up to 30-35% of ration dry matter in cattle as a result of the effect of condensed tannins on rumen bacteria and methanogens. It has been shown that saponins disrupt the membrane of rumen protozoa, thus decreasing the numbers of both protozoa and methanogenic archaea. Trials carried out with cattle housed in respiration chambers have demonstrated the enteric methane mitigation effect in cattle and sheep of tropical legumes such as Enterolobium cyclocarpum and Samanea saman which contain saponins. Essential oils are volatile constituents of terpenoid or non-terpenoid origin which impair energy metabolism of archaea and have shown reductions of up to 26% in enteric methane emissions in ruminants. There is emerging evidence showing the potential of flavonoids as methane mitigating compounds, but more work is required in vivo to confirm preliminary findings. From the information hereby presented, it is clear that plant secondary metabolites can be a rational approach to modulate the rumen microbiome and modify its function, some species of rumen microbes improve protein and fiber degradation and reduce feed energy loss as methane in ruminants fed tropical plant species., (Copyright © 2020 Ku-Vera, Jiménez-Ocampo, Valencia-Salazar, Montoya-Flores, Molina-Botero, Arango, Gómez-Bravo, Aguilar-Pérez and Solorio-Sánchez.)

The effects of dietary inclusion of dried Leucaena leucocephala leaves (DLL) on nutrient digestibility, fermentation parameters, microbial rumen population, and production of enteric methane (CH 4 ) in crossbred heifers were evaluated. Four heifers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design consisting of four periods and four levels of inclusion of DLL: 0%, 12%, 24%, and 36% of dry matter (DM) intake. Results showed that DM intake (DMI), organic matter intake, and gross energy intake (GEI) were similar ( p > 0.05) among treatments. Apparent digestibility of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and energy decreased with increasing levels of DLL in the ration ( p < 0.05). In contrast, digestible crude protein (CP) was higher ( p < 0.05) in treatments with 12% and 24% DM of DLL. The inclusion of DLL did not affect ( p > 0.05) rumen pH and total volatile fatty acids. Rumen microbial community was not affected ( p > 0.05) by treatment. There was a linear reduction ( p < 0.05) in CH 4 emissions as the levels of DLL in the ration were increased. Results of this study suggest that an inclusion of 12% DM of ration as DLL enhances digestible CP and reduces daily production of enteric CH 4 without adversely affecting DMI, rumen microbial population, and fermentation parameters.

In the last decades, strategies have been evaluated to reduce rumen methane (CH4) production by supplementing tropical forages rich in secondary compounds; however, most of these beneficial effects need to be validated in terms of their persistence over time. The aim of this study was to assess CH4 emissions over time in heifers fed with and without Gliricidia sepium foliage (G) mixed with ground pods of Enterolobium cyclocarpum(E). Two groups of 4 crossbred (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) heifers (284 ±17 kg initial weight) were fed with 2 diets (0% and 15% of a mixture of the pods and foliage [E + G:0 and E + G:15, respectively]) over 80 d, plus 2 wk before the experiment, in which every animal was fed a legume and pod-free diet. Every 14 d, CH4 production, apparent digestibility, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and microbial population were quantified for each animal. The experiment was conducted with a repeated measurements design over time. Diets fed differed in terms of their crude protein (CP), condensed tannins, and saponins content supplied by E. cyclocarpum and G. sepium. For most of the experiment, dry matter intake (DMI) and digestible dry-matter intake (DDMI) were 6.3 kg DMI/d and 512 g DDMI/kg, respectively, for both diets (diet: P > 0.05). Apparent digestible crude protein (DCP) was reduced by 21 g DCP/kg DM when the diet was supplemented with E + G:15 (P = 0.040). Molar proportions of VFA's in the rumen did not differ between diets or in time (P > 0.05). Daily methane production, expressed in relation to DMI, was 23.95 vs. 23.32 g CH4/kg DMI for the diet E + G:0 and E + G:15, respectively (diet: P = 0.016; Time: P > 0.05). Percent gross energy loss as CH4 (Ym) with grass-only diets was above 8.1%, whereas when feeding heifers with the alternate supplementation, Ym values of 7.59% (P = 0.016) were observed. The relative abundance of total bacterial, protozoa, and methanogenic archaeal replicates was not affected by time nor by the incorporation of legume and pods into the diet (P > 0.05). Results suggest that addition of G. sepium mixed with E. cyclocarpum pods can reduce CH4 production in heifers and this response remains over time, without effect on microbial population and VFA concentration and a slight reduction in CPD digestibility., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)