Potential Use of Seaweed (Gracilaria Tenuistipitata Var. Liui) for Reduction of Enteric Methane Emissions from Crossbred Dairy Cattle in Bangladesh

Abstract

Gracilaria tenuistipitata var. Liui is a red seaweed, artificially cultivated in Nuniachara sea beach at Cox's Bazar, mostly utilized as a human diet and nutritional supplement in Bangladesh. It has certain industrial applications as well. To explore the diversified application of this seaweed in livestock feed industries to reduce enteric methane production from ruminant, a feeding trial was done at the Pranisheba R and D cattle farm, Savar, Dhaka. An ambient methane amount was measured with and without application of seaweed in concentrate feed by a sensor based IoT device of remote cowshed monitoring system. Other clinical parameters like feeding amount, body temperature, consistency of faeces was physically monitored. After proximate analysis, the composition of total crude protein, crude fiber and moisture of Gracilaria tenuistipitata var. Liui were 24.09%, 0.18%, 21.31%. The quantity of total energy was 2615 Kcal/kg. Addition of 1% seaweed to the cattle concentrated diet on a dry matter basis lowered the average ambient methane concentration from 48.30 ± 4.45 to 41.02 ± 3.41ppm, the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). Average Body temperature, amount of daily feed intake and consistency of faeces remain unchanged. However, precise assessment of methane reduction potentiality requires a respiration chamber with an air control facility, but this observation might provide a first concept of this species as potential natural methane emissions reducer in Bangladesh.