A review of feeding supplementary nitrate to ruminant animals: nitrate toxicity, methane emissions, and production performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanhee Lee ◽  
Karen A. Beauchemin
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Ruminant Animals ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

Lee, C. and Beauchemin, K. A. 2014. A review of feeding supplementary nitrate to ruminant animals: Nitrate toxicity, methane emissions, and production performance. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 557–570. The purpose of this review is to discuss the risks and benefits of using supplementary nitrate to reduce enteric methane emissions in ruminants based on the results of a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis confirmed possible nitrate poisoning triggered by higher blood methemoglobin levels with increasing nitrate consumption of ruminants: methemoglobin (%)=41.3×nitrate [g kg−1 body weight (BW) d−1]+1.2; R 2=0.76, P<0.001. However, acclimatizing animals to nitrate reduced the toxicity of nitrate: methemoglobin (%)=4.2×nitrate (g kg−1 BW d−1)+0.4, R 2=0.76, P=0.002. Animals fed nitrate reduced enteric methane emissions in a dose-response manner: methane [g kg−1 dry matter intake (DMI)]=−8.3×nitrate (g kg−1 BW d−1)+15.2, R 2=0.80, P<0.001. The reduction of enteric methane emissions due to supplementary nitrate was effective and consistent in both in vitro and in vivo studies and also persistent in several long-term studies. Dry matter intake and live weight gain (LWG) of cattle were not affected by nitrate: DMI change, R 2=0.007, P=0.65; LWG change, R 2=0.03, P=0.31. It is anticipated that supplementary nitrate as a substitute for urea may change urinary nitrogen composition in a manner that increases ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions from manure. Furthermore, supplementary nitrate may have various physiological roles in nitric oxide metabolism in ruminants. In conclusion, supplementary nitrate is a viable means of mitigating enteric methane emissions due to its consistent and persistent efficacy. Risk of toxicity can be lowered by gradual acclimation of animals to nitrate. However, lowered methane production may not re-direct additional metabolizable energy towards animal production.

Impact of prolonged cold exposure on dry matter intake and enteric methane emissions of beef cows overwintered on low-quality forage diets with and without supplemented wheat and corn dried distillers’ grain with solubles

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Bernier ◽  
M. Undi ◽  
J. C. Plaizier ◽  
K. M. Wittenberg ◽  
G. R. Donohoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Distillers Grain ◽  
Dried Distillers Grain ◽  
Neutral Conditions ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

Bernier, J. N., Undi, M., Plaizier, J. C., Wittenberg, K. M., Donohoe, G. R. and Ominski, K. H. 2012. Impact of prolonged cold exposure on dry matter intake and enteric methane emissions of beef cows overwintered on low-quality forage diets with and without supplemented wheat and corn dried distillers’ grain with solubles. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 493–500. This study was conducted to determine the impact of prolonged cold exposure on dry matter intake (DMI) and enteric methane (CH4) emissions of overwintering beef cows consuming low-quality forage with and without supplemented protein in the form of dried distillers’ grain with solubles (DDGS). The study was carried out with 30 mature, dry, open beef cows (663±52.9 kg) that were fed a low-quality (deficient CP, 6.0% CP) forage (control), low-quality forage supplemented with 10% DDGS (sufficient CP, 8.7% CP; DDGS10) or 20% DDGS (excess CP, 11.6% CP; DDGS20). Carrying out the study from October through February allowed assessment under thermal neutral and prolonged cold conditions typical of the prairie region of Canada (Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan). Average minimum and maximum daily temperatures were 2.7 and 13.8°C in the thermal neutral period, and –23.5 and −11.0°C in the prolonged cold period, respectively. When no protein supplements were offered, cows exposed to prolonged cold consumed less (P=0.01) forage than when exposed to thermal neutral conditions. Enteric CH4 emissions, when measured as litres per day, were not influenced (P>0.05) by dietary protein supplementation, averaging 285.6±11.71, 311.9±11.49 and 282.6±13.02 L d−1 for cows fed control, DDGS10, and DDGS20 diets, respectively. When expressed as a percentage of energy consumed, cows consuming low-quality forage supplemented with 20% DDGS produced 18.5% less (P=0.01) enteric CH4 relative to cows consuming the low-quality forage only, with emissions of 5.3±0.38 and 6.5±0.33% GEI, respectively. Mature beef cows maintained at the same physiological status and dietary regime produced 26.8% less (P=0.001) enteric CH4 (7.1±0.30 vs. 5.2±0.26% GEI) under prolonged cold as compared with thermal neutral conditions. Based on these results, enteric CH4 emissions for the Canadian cow herd that is overwintered outdoors may be overestimated using current International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology.

scholarly journals Effects of pregrazing herbage mass in late spring on enteric methane emissions, dry matter intake, and milk production of dairy cows

2016 ◽  
Vol 99 (10) ◽  
pp. 7945-7955 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Muñoz ◽  
P.A. Letelier ◽  
E.M. Ungerfeld ◽  
J.M. Morales ◽  
S. Hube ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

245 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 195-196
Author(s):  
Ermias Kebreab ◽  
Mallory Honan ◽  
Breanna Roque ◽  
Juan Tricarico
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Emissions Mitigation ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

Abstract Livestock production contributed 3.9% to the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from the US in 2018. Most studies to mitigate GHG from livestock are focused on enteric methane because it contributes about 70% of all livestock GHG emissions. Mitigation options can be broadly categorized into dietary and rumen manipulation. Enteric methane emissions are strongly correlated to dry matter intake and somewhat sensitive to diet composition. Dietary manipulation methods include increasing feed digestibility, such as concentrate to forage ratio, or increasing fats and oils, which are associated with lower methane emissions. These reduce digestible fiber that are positively related to methane production and more energy passing the rumen without being degraded, respectively. Rumen manipulation through feed additives can be further classified based on the mode of action: 1. rumen environment modifiers indirectly affecting emissions and 2. direct methanogenesis inhibitors. The rumen environment modifiers act on the conditions that promote methanogenesis. These include ionophores, plant bioactive compounds such as essential oils and tannins, and nitrate rich feeds that serve as alternative hydrogen sinks and directly compete with methanogens thereby reducing methane emissions. The inhibitor category include 3-nitroxypropanol and seaweeds containing halogenated compounds. The former was reported to reduce enteric methane emissions (g/d) by 39% in dairy and 22% in beef cattle. Seaweed, in particular Asparagopsis spp., reduced emissions intensity (g/kg milk) by up to 67% in dairy and emissions yield (g/kg dry matter intake) by up to 98% in beef cattle. Because inhibitors are structural analogs of methane, their mode of action is through competitive inhibition of the methyl transfer reaction catalyzed by methyl coenzyme-M reductase, the last enzyme in methanogenesis. The combination of dietary and rumen manipulation options, including feed additives, is expected to reduce enteric methane emissions by over 30% in the next decade without compromising animal productivity and health.

scholarly journals Can live weight be used as a proxy for enteric methane emissions from pasture-fed sheep?

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Moorby ◽  
H. R. Fleming ◽  
V. J. Theobald ◽  
M. D. Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

scholarly journals Individual milk fatty acids are potential predictors of enteric methane emissions from dairy cows fed a wide range of diets: Approach by meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 102 (11) ◽  
pp. 10616-10631 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bougouin ◽  
J. A. D. Ranga Niroshan Appuhamy ◽  
A. Ferlay ◽  
E. Kebreab ◽  
C. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Milk Fatty Acids ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

Enteric methane emissions, intake, and performance of young Nellore bulls fed different sources of forage in concentrate-rich diets containing crude glycerine

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Ribeiro ◽  
J. D. Messana ◽  
A. José Neto ◽  
J. F. Lage ◽  
G. Fiorentini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sugarcane Bagasse ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Crude Glycerine ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

Forty young Nellore bulls were used to determine the effects of different sources of forage in concentrate-rich diets containing crude glycerine on feed intake, performance, and enteric methane emissions. Ten animals (397 ± 34 kg and 20 ± 2 months of age) were slaughtered to estimate the initial carcass weights, and the remaining 30 animals (417 ± 24.7) were randomly assigned to three treatments with 10 replicates. The treatments consisted of three different sources of forage [NDF from forage (fNDF) was fixed 15% of dry matter]; corn silage, sugarcane, and sugarcane bagasse; in diets rich in concentrates with 10% dry matter crude glycerine. There were no differences in the intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, gross energy, or metabolisable energy. No effects of the type of forage were observed on performance or enteric methane emissions. These results suggest that alternatives to corn silage that have high fibre content, such as sugarcane and sugarcane bagasse, do not significantly affect the intake, performance, or enteric methane emissions of young Nellore bulls.

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