Abstract
ABSTRACT: The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effect of Pithecellobium dulce, Tagetes erecta and Cosmos bipinnatus on methane emission, milk yield and dry matter intake in dairy cattle. A 4×4 Latin square experimental design was employed, using four multiparous Holstein cows of 553±72.4kg body weight, at mid lactation and average milk yield of 17.3±3kg/day. The experiment lasted 92 days, divided into four experimental periods of 23 days each. All cows had free access to maize and alfalfa silage in a 50:50 proportion, 4kg of concentrate/day and ad libitum access to water. Treatments consisted in supplementation of 0.5kg/day of the experimental plants, with one control treatment without supplementation. Each cow received one of each treatment in turn during one of the four periods. The C. bipinnatus reduced methane production by 16% (P<0,05) in comparison with the control diet. Milk production, milk composition and dry matter intake were not affected (p>0 0.05) by the use of C. bipinnatus or any other plant species. Supplementation at low doses of C. bipinnatus showed a reduction in ruminal methane production in dairy cows.
Highlights
The main sources of anthropogenic methane (CH4) are the production of ruminants for meat and milk production, the extraction and use of fossil fuels, and rice production
Agriculture contributes to approximately 13% of the total global emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) (IPCC, 2014), of which cattle are responsible for 53% (CHARMLEY et al, 2016)
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of Tagetes erecta, Cosmos bipinnatus and Pithecellobium dulce on reducing enteric methane emission, and on milk production and dry matter intake in dairy cattle
Summary
The main sources of anthropogenic methane (CH4) are the production of ruminants for meat and milk production, the extraction and use of fossil fuels, and rice production. Several studies, mostly in vitro experiments, have been conducted on the effect of tanniferous plants on reducing rumen CH4 production, in order to find natural alternatives to mitigate the environmental impact generated by the emissions of this GHG by the cattle industry (CUARTAS et al, 2014). Results in literature are contradictory, because in some cases a small methane reduction has been observed whereas in others a large reduction potential was identified. NAUMANN et al (2013) observed a small CH4 reduction of 3.2% and 0.5% in an experiment conducted to evaluate the in vitro effect of two types of Acacia angustissima – the South Texas ecotype and Cross timbers ecotype – with a condensed tannin content of 8.4% and 8.9%, respectively. In a study conducted by BHATTA et al (2009) in order
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
