In vitro methane production of different cultivars of perennial ryegrass

Abstract

Irish livestock production systems are characterised by the high utilization of grazed grass combined with minimal supplementary feeding. As such the options to reduce methane (CH4) production, particularly for beef animals, is limited to the finishing period when diet can be controlled and varied. No data is available regarding the methanogenic potential of differing grass cultivars. This study assessed CH4 output, as measured in vitro, of six ryegrass cultivars, with the aim of quantifying the potential for enteric CH4 emissions to be reduced from ruminants grazing ryegrass dominant swards.