scholarly journals Enteric methane emissions from growing beef cattle as affected by diet and level of intake

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A Beauchemin ◽  
Sean M McGinn

A study was conducted to determine whether enteric methane (CH4) emissions from growing feedlot cattle fed backgrounding diets based on barley silage could be reduced through grain supplementation. A second objective was to determine the effects of feed intake on CH4 emissions. Eight Angus beef heifers (initial and final body weight, 328 ± 28 and 430 ± 29 kg) were used. The experiment was designed as a split-plot crossover with two diets and two 8-week periods. The main plot was the diet [dry matter (DM) basis]: high forage (70% barley silage, 30% barley-based concentrate) or high grain (30% barley silage, 70% corn-based concentrate). The sub-plot was the feeding level: unrestricted (ad libitum feed intake, 5% orts) or restricted (65% of ad libitum intake) feed intake. Methane emissions were measured during each sub-plot over 3 d using whole animal chambers. Changing the forage to concentrate ratio and substituting barley for corn did not affect CH4 emissions (141.5 g d-1; P = 0.26), and the average emission was about 10% higher than the emission calculated using the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 approach. Methane conversion rate was also similar for both diets [6.23% of gross energy intake (GEI), P = 0.29], and was similar to the value of 6.0 used in the IPCC Tier 2 approach to calculating CH4 emissions from cattle. Restricting intake reduced CH4 emissions (169 vs. 114 g d-1; P < 0.002), with the reduction in CH4 proportional to the decline in intake. Level of intake relative to maintenance energy requirements was moderately inversely related (r = -0.30; P = 0.04) to CH4 (% GEI). The proportion of GEI lost as CH4 declined by 0.77 percentage units per unit increase in level of intake above maintenance. This study shows that supplementing barley-silage-based diets with corn grain to increase diet quality has only small effects on reducing CH4 emissions. In contrast, maximizing feed intake above maintenance energy requirements increases daily CH4 emissions, but improves efficiency of CH4 conversion because CH4, as a percentage of GEI, declined. Thus, feeding cattle for maximum gain is an important CH4 mitigation strategy for the cattle industry as it reduces the proportion of feed energy lost as CH4 each day, as well as, reduces the number of days to market and associated CH4 production. Key words: Cattle, methane, greenhouse gasses

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M Andreini ◽  
Sheyenne M Augenstein ◽  
Carrie S Fales ◽  
Roberto D Sainz ◽  
James W Oltjen

Abstract Comparing heat production after ad libitum (ADLIB) and restricted (RESTRICT) feeding periods may offer insight into how residual feed intake (RFI) groups change their energy requirements based on previous feeding levels. In this study, the authors sought to explain the efficiency changes of high- and low-RFI steers after feed restriction. To determine RFI classification, 56 Angus-cross steers with initial body weight (BW) of 350 ± 28.7 kg were individually housed, offered ad libitum access to a total mixed ration, and daily intakes were recorded for 56 d. RFI was defined as the residual of the regression of dry matter intake on mid-test BW0.75 and average daily gain. High- and low-RFI groups were defined as &gt;0.5 SD above or below the mean of zero, respectively. Fourteen steers from each high and low groups (n = 28) were selected for the subsequent 56-d RESTRICT period. During the RESTRICT period, intake was restricted to 75% of previous ad libitum intake on a BW0.75 basis, and all other conditions remained constant. After the RESTRICT period, both RFI groups had decreased maintenance energy requirements. However, the low-RFI group decreased maintenance energy requirements by 32% on a BW0.75 basis, more (P &lt; 0.05) than the high-RFI group decreased maintenance requirements (18%). Thus, the low-RFI steers remained more efficient after a period of feed restriction. We conclude that feed restriction decreases maintenance energy requirement in both high- and low-RFI groups that are restricted to the same degree.


2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 641 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Syahniar ◽  
R. Antari ◽  
D. Pamungkas ◽  
Marsetyo ◽  
D. E. Mayberry ◽  
...  

Improving the productivity and profitability of smallholder cattle enterprises in Indonesia requires greater and more efficient utilisation of underutilised feed resources such as rice straw. The experiment tested the hypothesis that an Ongole cow with low energy requirements can maintain weight (W) on a rice straw-based diet with the addition of a small amount of tree legumes. Thirty-two Ongole cross (Bos indicus) cows were allocated to one of four treatments in a randomised block design with eight cows per treatment. Cows were offered untreated rice straw ad libitum with four levels of tree legumes (0, 11, 21, and 42 g DM/kg W0.75.day) for 20 weeks. Feed intake was determined daily and liveweight was measured every second week. There was no difference in total feed intake between the treatment groups (P > 0.05). Intake of tree legumes was higher when more was offered (P < 0.05), but cows did not consume all of the legumes offered to them. The inclusion of tree legumes in the diet had no effect on organic matter digestibility, ME content of the diet, liveweight gain or estimated energy balance of the cows (P > 0.05). Rice straw alone contained insufficient ME and rumen-degradable N to meet the maintenance requirements of the cows. From the regression relating liveweight change and ME intake for all cows across all diets, the inclusion of tree legumes in the diet at ~12 g DM/kg W0.75.day or 2.8 g DM/kg W.day was enough to meet the energy requirements for maintenance of Ongole cows fed rice straw ad libitum.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lester Pahl

The extent to which goats and cattle eat equivalent amounts of forage as sheep has been based on their maintenance energy requirements (MERs) relative to a 50kg wether or dry ewe, known as a dry sheep equivalent (DSE). As such, a 50kg goat was considered 1 DSE and a 450kg steer as 7–8 DSE. In comparison, the DSE of macropods has been based on their basal metabolic rate (BMR) or energy expenditure of grazing (EEg) relative to those of sheep, with a 50kg macropod thought to be 0.7 and 0.45 DSE respectively. Based on published energy requirements of goats, macropods and cattle relative to sheep, their DSE values are estimated to be 1.2, 1.0 and 7.6 respectively. However, relative energy requirements may not be the same as relative dry matter intakes (DMIs), due to differences in forage quality, the structure of digestive tracts and selective foraging capabilities. Allometric equations that predict DMI were developed from published liveweights and intakes of sheep, goats, macropods and cattle. Given DMIs when fed high-quality forage, a 50kg goat was 1 DSE, a 50kg macropod was 0.7 DSE and a 450kg steer was 7.6 DSE. Their DMIs were depressed by 35–50% when fed low-quality forage, but a goat remained as 1 DSE, macropods increased to 1.0 DSE and cattle increased to 8.3 DSE. The capacity of macropods to maintain relatively higher DMIs of low-quality forage than sheep is probably due of their faster digesta passage rates and more expandable stomachs. These DMIs of animals provided ad-libitum quantities of similar forages in small pens are likely to differ from their DMIs when selectively grazing heterogeneous rangeland pastures. Under these conditions, sheep select higher-quality diets than cattle, and kangaroos select higher-quality diets than sheep, which increase the relative DMIs of the smaller herbivores. For this reason, a 50kg macropod is likely to be 1 DSE and consume twice as much forage than previously assumed.


Author(s):  
Pauline A. Lee ◽  
W.H. Close

There is now sufficient evidence to suggest that the ARC (1981) factorial estimates of the energy requirements of the sow during pregnancy are too high, due, possibly, to an over-estimation of the maintenance energy component (MEm). Revised values, based on an MEm value of 439 KJ ME/kg0.75, have therefore been calculated and the present experiment was designed to test these new estimates. An additional feature of the experiment is to determine whether variations in feed intake during lactation have an effect on the utilization of energy in subsequent pregnancies for maternal body weight gain. Since the experiment will be conducted over 4 parities it will be interesting to determine whether variations in feed intake during both pregnancy and lactation influence short- and long-term sow performance.


2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 813 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Alford ◽  
R. S. Hegarty ◽  
P. F. Parnell ◽  
O. J. Cacho ◽  
R. M. Herd ◽  
...  

The expected reduction in methane emissions from the Australian beef herd resulting from using bulls identified as being more feed efficient as a result of having a lower residual feed intake (RFI) was modelled, both in a single herd in southern Australia and in the national herd. A gene flow model was developed to simulate the spread of improved RFI genes through a breeding herd over 25 years, from 2002 to 2026. Based on the estimated gene flow, the voluntary feed intakes were revised annually for all beef classes using livestock populations taken from the Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI). Changes in emissions (kg methane/animal.year) associated with the reduction in feed intake were then calculated using NGGI procedures. Annual enteric methane emissions from both the individual and national herd were calculated by multiplying the livestock numbers in each beef class by the revised estimates of emissions per animal. For an individual adopting herd, the annual methane abatement in year 25 of selection was 15.9% lower than in year 1. For the national herd, differential lags and limits to adoption were assumed for northern and southern Australia. The cumulative reduction in national emissions was 568 100 t of methane over 25 years, with annual emissions in year 25 being 3.1% lower than in year 1. It is concluded that selection for reduced RFI will lead to substantial and lasting methane abatement, largely as a consequence of its implementation as a breeding objective for the grazing beef herd.


2014 ◽  
Vol 193 ◽  
pp. 32-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.J. Hammond ◽  
D. Pacheco ◽  
J.L. Burke ◽  
J.P. Koolaard ◽  
S. Muetzel ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 166-167 ◽  
pp. 321-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-H. Chung ◽  
M.L. He ◽  
S.M. McGinn ◽  
T.A. McAllister ◽  
K.A. Beauchemin

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (55) ◽  
pp. 6976-6986
Author(s):  
OA Makinde ◽  

The study investigated different feed restriction programs during an 8-week broiler chicken growing cycle as a management strategy for reducing cost of production. Initially, 90 Hubbard day-old chicks fed ad libitum a commercial starter feed supplying 24% crude protein and 3000 kcal of ME/kg for 4 weeks. Thereafter, they were randomly allotted to five different feed restriction programs (R0, R5, R56, R67 and R57) utilizing finisher diets supplying 19% crude protein and 2850 kcal of ME/kg from 5-8 weeks. Each program had three replicates and six birds per replicate. Unrestricted (R0) was the control where birds fed ad libitum. In R5, birds were restricted the 5th week; R56, 5th and 6th weeks; R67, 6th and 7th weeks, and R57, 5th and 7th weeks. However, all the feed-restricted birds fed ad libitum in the 8th week. Feed restriction involved feeding one-third feed intake of R0 birds starting from 14.00 to 18.00 h daily and performance parameters recorded. Feed restriction negatively affected growth performance as the severity of restriction increased. Final body weight, carcass weight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake were similar (P>0.05) for R0 and R5 but higher than R56, R67 and R57. However, feed restriction did not significantly affect (P>0.05) carcass and breast yields or feed conversion ratio except for R67, the least (P<0.05) feed efficient. Feed cost, cost of production and revenue declined as the period of restriction increased. However, profit or profit/kg live weight, economic efficiency (EE) of feed and relative EE of feed were highest for R0 followed by R5, R56, R57 and R67 in that order. Generally, birds restricted for 1 week performed better than those restricted for 2 weeks and birds restricted continuously for 2 weeks before the last week of re-alimentation and slaughter were inferior to others. These results suggest that the duration and timing of feed restriction can reduce cost in broiler meat production without seriously affecting performance or economics of production depending on the restriction program applied.


1977 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Forbes

SUMMARYA model has been developed in which the voluntary food intake of sheep is related directly to metabolizable energy requirements unless physical or endocrine limitations intervene.Although no ‘set point’ for body weight or body fat is incorporated in the model, mature sheep offered food ad libitum are predicted to reach eventually a plateau of body weight due to progressive depression of gut capacity by the increasing volume of abdominal fat. The final body weight is proportional to the digestibility of the diet. During pregnancy and lactation metabolic, physical and endocrine factors interact in such a way as to give predicted patterns of feed intake similar to those observed in practice with several qualities of diet.


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1737 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. I. Velazco ◽  
D. J. Cottle ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

Nitrate may serve as a non-protein nitrogen (NPN) source in ruminant diets while also reducing enteric methane emissions. A study was undertaken to quantify methane emissions of cattle when nitrate replaced urea in a high concentrate diet. Twenty Angus steers were allocated to two treatment groups and acclimated to one of two iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous finisher rations (containing NPN as urea or as calcium nitrate), with all individual feeding events recorded. A single methane measurement device (C-lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) was exchanged weekly between treatments (2 × 1-week periods per treatment) to provide estimations of daily methane production (DMP; g CH4/day). A 17% reduction in estimated DMP (P = 0.071) resulted from nitrate feeding, attributed to both a tendency for reduced dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.088) and H2 capture by the consumed nitrate. NO3-fed cattle consumed a larger number of meals (14.69 vs 7.39 meals/day; P < 0.05) of smaller size (0.770 vs 1.820 kg/meal) each day, so the average interval between a feeding event and methane measurement was less in NO3-fed cattle (3.44 vs 5.15 h; P < 0.05). This difference could potentially have skewed the estimated DMP and contributed to the tendency (P = 0.06) for NO3-fed cattle to have a higher methane yield (g CH4/kg DMI) than urea-fed cattle. This study found short-term methane emission measurements made over 2 weeks (per treatment group) were adequate to show dietary nitrate tended to reduce emission and change the feeding pattern of feedlot cattle. Changes in feeding frequency may have confounded the ability of short-term methane measurements to provide data suitable for accurately estimating methane per unit feed intake.


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