Severe below-maintenance feed intake increases methane yield from enteric fermentation in cattle

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114519003350

Language of the publication
English
Date
2020-02-25
Type
Article
Author(s)
  • Goopy, J. P.
  • Korir, D.
  • Pelster, D.
  • Ali, A. I. M.
  • Wassie, S. E.
  • Schlecht, E.
  • Dickhoefer, U.
  • Merbold, L.
  • Butterbach-Bahl, K.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press

Abstract

The relationship between feed intake at production levels and enteric CH4 production in ruminants consuming forage-based diets is well described and considered to be strongly linear. Unlike temperate grazing systems, the intake of ruminants in rain-fed tropical systems is typically below maintenance requirements for part of the year (dry seasons). The relationship between CH4 production and feed intake in animals fed well below maintenance is unexplored, but changes in key digestive parameters in animals fed at low levels suggest that this relationship may be altered. We conducted a study using Boran yearling steers (n 12; live weight: 162·3 kg) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to assess the effect of moderate to severe undernutrition on apparent digestibility, rumen turnover and enteric CH4 production of cattle consuming a tropical forage diet. We concluded that while production of CH4 decreased (1133·3-65·0 g CH4/d; P < 0·0001), over the range of feeding from about 1·0 to 0·4 maintenance energy requirement, both CH4 yield (29·0-31·2 g CH4/kg DM intake; P < 0·001) and CH4 conversion factor (Ym 9·1-10·1 MJ CH4/MJ gross energy intake; P < 0·01) increased as intake fell and postulate that this may be attributable to changes in nutrient partitioning. We suggest there is a case for revising emission factors of ruminants where there are seasonal nutritional deficits and both environmental and financial benefits for improved feeding of animals under nutritional stress.

Subject

  • Animal nutrition,
  • Cattle

Keywords

  • Feed,
  • Cattle,
  • Digestion,
  • Fermentation,
  • Malnutrition,
  • Methane

Rights

Pagination

1239-1246

Peer review

Yes

Identifiers

ISSN
0007-1145

Article

Journal title
British Journal of Nutrition
Journal volume
123
Journal issue
11
Accepted date
2019-12-16
Submitted date
2019-02-22

Citation(s)

Goopy, J. P., Korir, D., Pelster, D., Ali, A. I. M., Wassie, S. E., Schlecht, E., Dickhoefer, U., Merbold, L., & Butterbach-Bahl, K. (2020). Severe below-maintenance feed intake increases methane yield from enteric fermentation in cattle. British Journal of Nutrition, 123(11), 1239-1246. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114519003350

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Collection(s)

Animals and insects

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