Digestion Process Research Articles

DETERMINATION OF THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF ANIMAL WASTE AND CLIMATE CHANGE; KARAMAN EXAMPLE

Climate change is a major concern around the world. In this context, the carbon footprint of animal waste is of critical importance for sustainability and climate change management. The aim of this study is to estimate the carbon footprint resulting from animal breeding and animal waste in the Karaman region. In the study, 2022 data was used and there are 1019277 sheep and 81368 cattle for Karaman. In the study, Tier 1 and Tier 2 approaches were used to estimate methane gas emissions related to both enteric fermentation resulting from animal digestive processes and manure management. According to the results of the study, the results obtained using Tier 1 and Tier 2 approaches are as follows: 0.4924-0.5014 kg CO2e per 1 liter of milk for Cattle. For sheep, it is 4.5167-6.5627 kg CO2e per 1 kg of meat. For goat, it is 5.0813-6.0231 kg CO2e per 1 kg of meat. These results can be taken into account when creating strategies to reduce methane gas emissions. It is recommended to add better quality and high energy content foods to the feed ration, especially to reduce enteric fermentation. In addition, this study is a resource for relevant researchers working in the field in calculating the carbon loads of animal waste and is thought to be a guide for decision makers and practitioners.

Impact of lowering nitrogen content in pig manure through low crude protein diets on anaerobic digestion process stability, biogas yields, and digestate composition

Lowering crude protein in pig diets can reduce nitrogen (N) excretion and alter manure characteristics. Anaerobic digestion (AD) offers potential for converting pig manure into biogas and bio-based fertilizers (i.e., digestate). However, limited research exists on the effects of N content in pig manure on AD when pigs are fed diets with varying crude protein levels. This study investigated how lowering N content in pig manure through low crude protein diets may affect AD process stability, biogas generation, and digestate properties. Manures from different dietary treatments, named as control (CON), low N (LN), and very low N (VLN), with Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen concentrations of 5.87, 5.42, and 5.15 g/L, respectively, were investigated. Daily biogas production, composition (CH4, CO2, and H2S), and digestate properties were monitored over 13 fed-batch cycles (25 ± 4 days per cycle). The experiment was conducted at 20 ± 1 °C, a condition suited for milder climate regions, using six single-stage digesters operated in sequencing fed-batch mode. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using PROC MIXED with repeated measures. Results showed that the differences in N content in pig manure due to the three dietary treatments had a limited impact on biogas generation, with specific methane yields remaining similar over time. CH4 concentrations remained stable between 60 and 65 %, ensuring high-quality biogas despite dietary variations. Differences between treatments became more pronounced with increased organic loading rates (OLRs) due to variations in the amount of volatile solids fed. AD also remained stable (Total Volatile Fatty Acids/Total Alkalinity <0.25) even at an OLR of 2.15 g of chemical oxygen demand L−1 day−1, highlighting AD's robustness at lower temperatures. Digestate samples contained essential minerals beneficial for plant growth. More research is needed to explore varied manure compositions and feeding strategies to better understand the interactions of animal nutrition with AD.

High-solid digestion – A comparison of completely stirred and plug-flow reactor systems

High-solid digestion (HSD) for biogas production is a resource-efficient and sustainable method to treat organic wastes with high total solids content and obtain renewable energy and an organic fertiliser, using a lower dilution rate than in the more common wet digestion process. This study examined the effect of reactor type on the performance of an HSD process, comparing plug-flow (PFR) type reactors developed for continuous HSD processes, and completely stirred-tank reactors (CSTRs) commonly used for wet digestion. The HSD process was operated in thermophilic conditions (52 °C), with a mixture of household waste, garden waste and agricultural residues (total solids content 27–28 %). The PFRs showed slightly better performance, with higher specific methane production and nitrogen mineralisation than the CSTRs, while the reduction of volatile solids was the same in both reactor types. Results from 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed a significant difference in the microbial population, potentially related to large differences in stirring speed between the reactor types (1 rpm in PFRs and 70–150 rpm in CSTRs, respectively). The bacterial community was dominated by the genus Defluviitoga in the PFRs and order MBA03 in the CSTRs. For the archaeal community, there was a predominance of the genus Methanoculleus in the PFRs, and of the genera Methanosarcina and Methanothermobacter in the CSTRs. Despite these shifts in microbiology, the results showed that stable digestion of substrates with high total solids content can be achieved in both reactor types, indicating flexibility in the choice of technique for HSD processes.

The effects of different pretreatment technologies on microbial community in anaerobic digestion process: A systematic review.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-024-00917-x.

In vitro Bioaccesibility of Phenolic Compounds from the Halophytes Suaeda Edulis and Suaeda Esteroa: Opportunity for the Development of Novel Foods

Halophytic plants grow in high salinity environments and present phytochemicals with antioxidant properties, such as phenolic compounds; due to the uncertain availability of healthy foods, there is a growing interest in their nutritional potential. However, their bioactive compounds with beneficial health effects are limited in their bioaccessibility. The objective of this study was to subject S. edulis and S. esteroa to an in vitro digestion process to evaluate the bioaccessibility and total antioxidant capacity of phenolic compounds during three phases of digestion. We determined phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity by colorimetric methods and phenolic composition by UHPLC-DAD. Total phenols, total flavonoids, and total antioxidant capacity by DPPH and TEAC in the three phases of digestion (oral, gastric, and intestinal) of S. esteroa were higher than in S. edulis, founding 4.84 % higher in total phenol content, and 0.05 % in total flavonoid content; also, and 28.94 and 23.93 % higher in total antioxidant capacity by DPPH and TEAC, respectively in the intestinal digestion phase. The bioaccessibility of S. edulis was higher than in S. esteroa; the intestinal was the phase reflecting more bioaccessible compounds. The bioaccessibility percentages of total phenols and flavonoids were 590.16 and 1012.93 %, and the percentage recovery of total antioxidant capacity by DPPH and TEAC were 181.37 and 139.74 %. We identified phenolic acids ferulic, p-Coumaric, and synaptic (hydroxycinnamic), gallic and protocatechuic (hydroxybenzoic), the flavonoids catechin (flavan-3-oles), myricetin and ruthin (flavonols), naringenin and naringin (flavonones). S. esteroa presented bioactive compounds in higher concentrations than S. edulis due to the stress imposed by its habitat; nevertheless, the determined bioactive compounds of S. edulis showed a higher bioaccessibility because it was managed under local improvement.

Effects of water temperature on growth, health and digestive processes of the thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus

This study aimed to identify the effects of water temperature on the rearing of the omnivorous teleost Chelon labrosus and to determine the optimal temperature for the culture of this interesting candidate for the diversification of European aquaculture. The fish (initial weight 26.81 ± 6.2 g) were held at four water temperatures (18, 22, 26 and 30 °C) in triplicate for 90 days in 100 L recirculating tanks (n = 14 / tank). The effects of said temperatures were assessed on growth, intestinal health and the digestive processes of the fish. At 18 °C, energy consumption was low, leading to a high accumulation of reserves and slow growth, a typical overwintering strategy. The best growth results were obtained at 22 °C, followed closely by 26 °C, which resulted in low energy reserves. The fact that the fish at 26 °C grew less than the ones at 22 °C while having similar energy consumption, suggested that this temperature was close to the end of the optimal range, but no signs of stress were detected. However, at 30 °C the fish had lower energy reserves but grew significantly less, which can be considered indicative of stress. Health impairment at this temperature was confirmed by the epithelial lesions found in this group. The growth and energy availability of the different groups is discussed in the light of the activities of α-amylase, pepsin and alkaline proteases. As an integration of all these results, a quadratic regression model resulting from growth values (SGR) in relation to water temperature was performed, and it allowed predicting an actual optimal water temperature of 22.8 °C for growth of C. labrosus. This is the first assessment of the optimal water temperature for the culture of C. labrosus, and it will be highly valuable for the development of its intensive culture.

Slaughter Weight, Carcass Weight, Giblet Percentage, and Abdominal Fat of Broilers Given White Turmeric Extract

White turmeric is an herbal plant that contains additives and has good potential, does not cause residues or is harmful when consumed by livestock. The main components of white turmeric rhizome which have medicinal properties are essential oils and curcuminoids. Curcuminoid compounds have antibacterial properties that can improve the digestive process by killing pathogenic bacteria and stimulating the walls of the gallbladder so that they can facilitate fat metabolism. Administration of white turmeric extract 0%, 2% and 4% had no significant effect on slaughter weight, carcass weight, giblet percentage and abdominal fat percentage of broiler chickens

Daily rhythm in feeding behavior and digestive processes in totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) under commercial farming conditions

To identify daily changes in the digestive physiology of Totoaba macdonaldi, the feed intake, activity (pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, amylase, and L-aminopeptidase), and gene expression (aminopeptidase and maltase-glucoamylase) of key digestive enzymes were measured in the intestine and the pyloric caeca. Fish were fed for three weeks every four hours during the light period to apparent satiation, and samples were taken every four hours throughout a 24-h cycle under a 12:12 L:D photoperiod. The feed consumption steadily increased until the third feeding (16:00 h, ZT-8) and decreased significantly towards the end of the day. The activity of pepsin and alkaline enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, amylase, and L-aminopeptidase) exhibited a pattern dependent on the presence of feed, showing a significant reduction during the hours of darkness (ZT-12 to ZT-24). Expression of the intestinal brush border enzyme (L-aminopeptidase) increased during the darkness period in anticipation of the feed ingestion associated with the subsequent light period. The cosinor analysis used to estimate the feed rhythms for all tested enzymes showed that activity in the intestine and pyloric caeca exhibited significant rhythmicity (p < 0.05). However, no rhythmicity was observed in the intestinal expression of maltase-glucoamylase. Our results demonstrate that some of the behavioral and digestive physiology features of totoaba directly respond to rhythmicity in feeding, a finding that should be considered when establishing optimized feeding protocols.

Emerging Roles of Bile Acids and TGR5 in the Central Nervous System: Molecular Functions and Therapeutic Implications.

Bile acids (BAs) are cholesterol derivatives synthesized in the liver and released into the digestive tract to facilitate lipid uptake during the digestion process. Most of these BAs are reabsorbed and recycled back to the liver. Some of these BAs progress to other tissues through the bloodstream. The presence of BAs in the central nervous system (CNS) has been related to their capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) from the systemic circulation. However, the expression of enzymes and receptors involved in their synthesis and signaling, respectively, support the hypothesis that there is an endogenous source of BAs with a specific function in the CNS. Over the last decades, BAs have been tested as treatments for many CNS pathologies, with beneficial effects. Although they were initially reported as neuroprotective substances, they are also known to reduce inflammatory processes. Most of these effects have been related to the activation of the Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5). This review addresses the new challenges that face BA research for neuroscience, focusing on their molecular functions. We discuss their endogenous and exogenous sources in the CNS, their signaling through the TGR5 receptor, and their mechanisms of action as potential therapeutics for neuropathologies.

Research Trends in the Recovery of By-Products from Organic Waste Treated by Anaerobic Digestion: A 30-Year Bibliometric Analysis

The prevailing extractive economic model is unsustainable due to the finite nature of resources, thereby necessitating the development of alternative models and policies. The anaerobic digestion (AD) process is key to achieving this objective, as it facilitates the conversion of organic waste into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate. This approach is aligned with the principles of a circular economy and contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature published over the past three decades (1993–2023). The analysis will be based on data drawn from the Scopus database and then analysed using the VOSviewer software, which allows for the interconnection of the revised bibliography through a series of selected keywords. The results demonstrated the existence of four clusters: (i) the beneficial valorisation of waste; (ii) volatile fatty acids and biohydrogen as added value by-products resulting from AD; (iii) lignocellulosic substrates and their by-products; and iv) the main products of AD, biogas and digestate. The bibliometric analysis demonstrates a growing interest in AD within the biorefinery concept in recent years, showcasing its potential for effective waste management and integration into the production chain through the principles of the circular economy.

Diet and gut microbiome: Impact of each factor and mutual interactions on prevention and treatment of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes mellitus

The gut microbiota (GM) plays a key role in health by influencing several physiological functions, including the digestive process, the immune system, vitamin production, and mental health. Dysbiosis in gut microbial composition and function has been linked to systemic inflammatory response and the development of metabolic diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM). "Leaky gut" resulting from dysbiosis causes endotoxemia, leading to systemic inflammation and insulin resistance, which are pathogenetic agents of type 2 and gestational DM. Moreover, in children, gut dysbiosis has been associated with the immunitary dysregulation with increased risk of autoimmunity and development of type 1 DM. However, dietary changes in the GM and their role in DM are poorly understood. Plant-based diets that are low in fat and high in fiber have been associated with beneficial effects on the GM. Clinical trials of prebiotics and probiotics have shown promising, albeit mixed, results. This narrative review summarizes recent findings on the relationship between the GM, diet, and DM, focusing on the systems in which the microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of this disease and its potential use as a therapy. In addition, we discuss immune dysfunction associated with gut dysbiosis and its role in type 1, type 2, and gestational DM. Further research is needed to evaluate the GM as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of DM.

Combination between Composting and Vermicomposting of OFMSW: A Sicilian Case Study

In nature, earthworms process enormous quantities of plant debris, ingesting and converting them into vermicast, the final product of their digestion process. Vermicast is widely recognized as an organic fertilizer suitable for plants, usually obtained from the transformation of animal manure. Indeed, controlled vermicomposting of the organic fraction from municipal solid waste (OFMSW) has yielded contradictory results, limiting the extension of laboratory results to larger-scale initiatives. This study aims to analyze a combined composting–vermicomposting process using Eisenia fetida (also known as Californian red worm) for the treatment of OFMSW (containing different impurities, such as heavy metals), mixed with a suitable substrate for earthworms, consisting of a blend of animal bedding and pre-selected food scraps (SOM—pre-selected organic material). Different fractions from a municipal composting plant were tested for the biological process: raw OFMSW, pre-composted (PC, organic matrix that has completed the thermophilic biodegradation phase), and compost (C). Laboratory tests involved five different applications with varying mixing proportions, partly aided by the addition of OM. The physical–chemical parameters (e.g., pH, temperature, moisture) and worm growth rate in the different treatments were measured and compared. The results showed that the process improved the quality of the final product, especially for the selected matrices, and revealed a significant reduction in the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (lower than 14 in all tests) when vermicomposting was applied to the mixed matrices and SOM. Worms increased during the process in net weight and growth rate, even if there was an accumulation of heavy metals in the “worm tea”. Worm mass reached a little over double the initial value in all tests (from 200 g to more than 500 g in the SOM test), except for an increase of only 87% in the OFMSW test, while heavy metal content in the solid matrix was reduced in all tests compared to the starting content.

Functional Peptides from Yak Milk Casein: Biological Activities and Structural Characteristics.

The average content of casein in yak milk is 40.2 g/L. Casein can be degraded by enzymatic digestion or food processing to produce abundant degradation peptides. International researchers have studied the degradation peptides of yak milk casein by using multiple techniques and methods, such as in vitro activity tests, cellular experiments, proteomics, bioinformatics, etc., and found that the degradation peptides have a wide range of functional activities that are beneficial to the human body, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities, etc., and it has been proved that the types and strengths of functional activities are closely related to the structural characteristics of the peptides. This paper describes the characteristics of yak milk proteins, the functional activities, and mechanism of action of degraded peptides. Based on the types of functional activities of yak milk casein degradation peptides, we classified and elucidated the effects of structural factors, such as peptide molecular weight, peptide length, amino acid sequence, physicochemical properties, electrical charge, hydrophobicity, spatial conformation, chain length, and the type of enzyme on these activities. It reveals the great potential of yak milk casein degradation peptides as functional active peptide resources and as auxiliary treatments for diseases. It also provides important insights for analyzing yak casein degradation peptide activity and exploring high-value utilization.

Integrating microbial electrochemical cell in anaerobic digestion of vegetable wastes to enhance biogas production

Anaerobic digestion is a highly promising approach to manage agricultural/food wastes that reduces pollution and produces energy effectively. In this study, we investigate the incorporation of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) in anaerobic digestion process with the introduction of two graphite felts to enhance biogas production with minimal electrical energy input. The high amount of biogas (1890 ± 113.1 mL) was produced from the 1:2 v/v mixture of vegetable wastes in water and 0.8 V supplemented at 27 °C. Biogas could also be effectively produced in MEC at 18 °C (632 ± 14.8 mL), which is more than double in comparison with biogas produced without voltage (303 ± 27.5 mL). Maximum COD reduction was found in MEC (70.84 ± 5.54 %) than in control (20.35 ± 4.53 %). Three Bacillus strains and one Exiguobacterium strain were isolated from the MEC sludge. Electricity supplemented anaerobic digestion can produce higher amount of biogas and improve waste degradation by transforming waste into energy.

Optimization of the anaerobic digestion process and the metabolic pathway of methanogenesis of Jerusalem artichoke straw with the mixed addition of iron filings and biochar

This study explored the feasibility of the mixed addition of iron filings and biochar in the anaerobic digestion of Jerusalem artichoke straw (JAS), using iron filings and biochar as mixed additives for mid-temperature batch anaerobic digestion experiments, and applied response surface methodology to investigate the interactive effects of different ratios of iron filings and biochar (FE/BC), solid content, and initial pH on the cumulative methane production from JAS. The results showed that the optimal conditions for methane production were an FE/BC of 2.45:7.55, an initial pH of 7.59, and a solid content of 8.80 %. Under these conditions, the cumulative methane production was 278.11 mL g−1 volatile solid (VS) contents, which was very close to the predicted value (286.42 mL g−1 VS), with a relative error of less than 5 %, indicating the effectiveness of the model. The optimized conditions with mixed addition (HB) exhibited good synergistic promotion, increasing cumulative methane production by 48.69 % compared to the control without additives and by 22.29 % and 29.57 % compared to the single addition of iron filings and biochar, respectively. Moreover, the HB treatment under optimized conditions achieved good economic benefits. Metagenomic analysis showed that the relative abundances of bacterial taxa including Fermentimonas, DMER64, Bacteroidetes_VadinHA17, unclassified Synergistaceae, Clostridium, Ruminiclostridium, and unclassified Anaerolineaceae were higher in HB samples, and Methanothrix was also enriched. Methane metabolism pathway analysis indicated that the anaerobic digestion of JAS with the mixed addition of iron filings and biochar enhanced the acetoclastic methane production pathway, thereby increasing methane production.

Efeito nematicida do fungo Duddingtonia flagrans em ovinos

The health of the sheep flock depends, among other factors, on effective sanitary control, and the use of fungus-based bioproducts has been a promising alternative against sheep gastrointestinal nematodes. The control of ovine gastrointestinal diseases caused by parasites requires good management practices that minimize the exposure of animals to the infective larvae of parasites present in the environment. The fungus Duddingtonia flagrans is an efficient agent for the biological control of nematodes due to its efficiency in controlling parasites in domestic animals. The aim of this literature review is to demonstrate the predatory activity of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans against infective larvae (L) of gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminant sheep. The fungus in the form of D. flagrans chlamydospores proved to be resistant to the digestive process of ruminants and efficient against intestinal parasites. Its use in association with anthelmintics proved to be a good alternative for biological control. This possibility of using bioproducts and anthelmintics in combination reduces the effects of parasite resistance. Various methods of delivering the fungus orally, in pellets or powder, have obtained results that prove the efficacy of D. flagrans isolates in reducing infective nematode larvae.

Digestive characterization and its relationship with digestibility, performance traits of local breed Mexican Cuino mini-pigs

The effect of sex on the characteristics of the digestive tract and its relationship with the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and performance traits was studied in 14 Mexican Cuino (MC) mini-pigs averaging 57.2 ± 8.1 kg, fed ad libitum a diet based on sorghum and soybean meal. Nitrogen ATTD was significantly better in females than in castrated male pigs. A trend was found for the relative weight of the entire digestive tract to be heavier in castrated males than in female pigs. Large intestine contribution to total digestive tract weight was relatively high in both sexes, 48.7 and 50.8%, respectively, for castrated males and females. A significant, though not strong relationship between large intestine relative weight and ATTD of dry matter (DM) was observed. These results indicate that sex would appear to be a factor influencing digestive processes in MC mini-pigs.

Synthesis of High-Purity Hydroxyapatite and Phosphoric Acid Derived from Moroccan Natural Phosphate Rocks by Minimizing Cation Content Using Dissolution-Precipitation Technique.

This study investigates, in the first part, the synthesis and purification of a poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) using natural Moroccan phosphate (Boucraa region) as a raw material. Despite its successful preparation, the obtained HAp was contaminated by several metallic cations (mostly Cd, Pb, Sn, Ti, Mn, Mg, Fe, and Al) migrated from the natural rocks during the digestion process, inhibiting HAp application in several sectors. To minimize the existence of these elements, the dissolution-precipitation technique (DP) was investigated as a non-selective purification process. Following the initial DP cycle conducted on the precipitated HAp, the removal efficiency was approximately 60% for Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, and Ti and 90% for Cd and Pb. After three consecutive DP cycles, notable improvement in the removal efficiency was observed, reaching 66% for Fe, 69% for Mg, 73% for Mn, and 74% for Al, while Cd, Pb, and Ti were totally removed. In the second part of this study, the purified HAp was digested using sulfuric acid to produce high-quality phosphoric acid (PA) and gypsum (GP). The elemental analysis of the PA indicates a removal efficiency of approximately 89% for Fe and over 94% for all the examined cations. In addition, the generated GP was dominated by SO3 and CaO accompanied with minor impurities. Overall, this simple process proves to be practically useful, to reduce a broad spectrum of cationic impurities, and to be flexible to prepare valuable products such hydroxyapatite, phosphoric acid, and gypsum.

Microplastic Contamination in Field-Side Composting in Geneva, Switzerland (CH)

Plastic pollution has become a growing concern for environmental and human health in recent years. Currently, research suggests that soil compartments might be highly contaminated, with compost being one of the major sources for plastic contamination, especially at reduced sizes. In Geneva, microplastic contamination has already been evaluated in industrial compost but not yet in field-side compost. Therefore, this work focuses on the evaluation of concentrations and the characterization of microplastic particles (MPs) in field-side compost in Geneva. Four different field-side composts were sampled in Geneva and sieved with sizes ranging from &gt;5 mm to 0.5 mm. The MPs were visually sorted when possible, and the smaller ones were treated by digestion and density separation processes. All of the MPs were analyzed with infrared spectroscopy. The results (sizes &gt; 5 mm to 1.25 mm) reveal concentrations between 195 ± 64 and 1315 ± 375 plastic particles/kg of compost and the presence of conventional plastics in every compost. MPs were present in almost every size fraction for the four composts, and the origin of waste seemed to influence their concentrations. Indeed, composts free from organic household waste had lower concentrations than the ones accepting that kind of waste. Littering and waste still wrapped in plastic were also noticed for the composts with higher concentrations of MPs. The characterization results highlight the variety of plastic types among the composts, mostly represented by PE (polyethylene), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), PP (polypropylene), and DAIP (polydiallyl iso-phthalate) in general but also specific contamination by PEMA (poly ethyl methacrylate) for only one of the composts. Further work is needed to evaluate the distribution of MPs according to their size or the types of waste used in composting, especially the potential degrading conditions of plastics, to mitigate their presence in composts.

The enteric methane emission conundrum: U.S. beef cattle producer adoption of climate-focused technology

Cattle are ruminant livestock that emit enteric methane (CH4) as part of their natural digestive process. The U.S. beef cattle industry is receiving pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including methane. The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef has set a target for the U.S. feedlot sector to reduce emissions by 10 % per pound of beef by 2030. Feed additive 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) has been developed to help mitigate methane emissions. While not yet approved for use in U.S. beef production, adoption of 3-NOP in U.S. feedlots upon approval remains unknown as no widespread economic incentive currently exists in the marketplace to spur adoption. The objectives of this study are: (1) to determine potential 3-NOP adoption by U.S. feedlot cattle producers given various marketplace incentives and (2) to explore how differing approaches to reducing emissions from beef production to achieve sector targets impact social welfare. Our study uses data from a U.S. feedlot producer survey to estimate willingness-to-adopt (WTA) measures. Regression results are used to map potential adoption of 3-NOP given various market and policy scenarios. The survey sample is then split into small producers (<2000 head sold in last 12 months) and large producers (2000+ head sold in last 12 months) to determine differences in WTA based on operation size. We find that producers prefer incentives in the form of processor premiums over government subsidies. The incentive level needed to spur adoption increases as the implementation cost of 3-NOP increases and decreases if net profit estimations are included in the messaging. On average, small producers require a higher incentive to adopt 3-NOP than large producers. Improving the emissions reduction efficacy of 3-NOP reduces the level of incentive needed to achieve aggregate emissions targets. The least expensive avenue to achieve emissions reduction targets results in greater outlays to large producers as compared to small producers. The marginal cost to society of feeding 3-NOP to an additional steer or heifer in the feedlot increases with each animal. As such, it may be that improving the efficacy of 3-NOP through increased investment in research and development is less costly than spurring more producers to adopt the additive in their feed rations. Ultimately, producers, processors, beef consumers, voting residents, taxpayers, and policymakers all have influence in shaping how the beef industry tackles the emissions reduction conundrum.