Changes in methane release from organic matter passing through the digestive tract of horses

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Using the tests of methanogenic activity (TMA) changes in methane yield (Y CH4 ) and anaerobic degradability (D c ) of organic matter of feeds and excrements were studied in an experimental group of six horses while complete analytical methods were applied (N-compound matters, proteins, non-protein N-compound matters, fat, nitrogen-free extract, ash, crude fibre, organic matter, NDF, ADF, hemicelluloses, cellulose, lignin and chemical oxygen demand COD) and the material balance was determined. The horses utilised 48.8% of organic matter of feeds in dry matter while the daily weight of droppings was 21 kg with 5.20% of dry matter and 4 kg of urine with 7% of organic matters. It is important that the theoretical methane yield per 24 hours corresponding to the organic matter of ingested feeds which was transferred to excrements is 1.771 m 3 CH 4 at 0°C and 1 013.25 hPa while the actual daily methane yield of droppings is 1.739 m 3 CH 4 at 0°C and 1 013.25 hPa, i.e. practically identical, because the yield from urine organic matters was not included in the actual daily methane yield. Because the anaerobic degradability of the used feed mixture and horse droppings is practically identical, it is obvious that besides the enteric fermentation according to the reaction CO 2 + 4 H 2 → CH 4 + 2 H 2 O by hydrogenotrophic methanogens no classical anaerobic digestion takes place in the digestive tract of horses; it means that the horse breeding sector is not a factor contaminating the atmosphere by methane.

Anaerobic degradability of organic matter of cattle faeces and a possibility of its utilization

“…(3) The quality of analytical results of the anaerobic degradability determination seems to be highly dependent on the inoculum quality. However, our experimental experiences show that it is not the case, probably because the substrate production of methane V CH4S and carbon content in the gaseous phase of the methanogenic activity test (MAT) are calculated with the simultaneous subtraction of endogenous production of methane by the inoculum (Kolář et al, 2009b). It is to note that the cultivation temperature in MAT is a highly significant factor of analytical data quality.…”

“…Mainly ecologists who fear that the atmosphere may be contaminated by greenhouse gases produced by animal farms are interested in the anaerobic degradability of organic matter (Gijzen, 1998;Alcock and Hegarty, 2006;Dong et al, 2006;Hegarty et al, 2007;Muenger and Kreuzer, 2008). Our team studied the yield of methane from organic matter passing through the digestive tract of horses and we found out that such a fear was little reasonable in most cases (Kolář et al, 2009b). The main sources of methane in the atmosphere are wetlands, landfills, peat bogs and paddy fields (Umemura et al, 2006;Penning and Conrad, 2007).…”

Effect of the age and season of fattening period on carbon dioxide emissions from broiler housing

“…It is generally recommended that CO 2 concentrations should be kept below 5 500 mg/m 3 (Council Directive 2007/43/EC, 2007. Modern poultry housing is designed and constructed to reduce a heat loss and to improve energy efficiency, however when coupled with reduced ventilation, it can result in elevated levels of CO 2 , ammonia and other air contaminants, which may adversely affect the health and productivity of animals (Olanrewaju et al, 2008;Kolář et al, 2009). Vučemilo et al (2010) give reasons for much lower values of air pollutants in summer months due to a higher ventilation level in this season.…”

Utilisation of Waste from Digesters for Biogas Production

“…the digestive tract of ruminants as an enzymatic bioreactor and to acquire information on its activity, on feed utilisation or digestibility and on the influence of various external factors on the digestion of these animals (Koláį et al 2010a) or to determine the share of particular animal species in the production of greenhouse gasses (Koláį et al 2009b). At the end of this subchapter dealing with the degree of organic matter lability and its changes after fermentation in a biogas plant these experimental data are presented: A mixture of pig slurry and primary (raw) sludge from the sedimentation stage of a municipal waste water treatment plant at a 1 : 1 volume ratio was treated in an experimental unit of anaerobic digestion operating as a simple periodically filled BATCH-system with mechanical agitation, heating tubes with circulating heated medium at a mesophilic temperature (40°C) and low organic load of the digester (2.2 kg org.…”