Meta-analysis quantifying the potential of dietary additives and rumen modifiers for methane mitigation in ruminant production systems

Almeida, A. K.; Hegarty, R. S.; Cowie, Annette

doi:10.1016/j.aninu.2021.09.005

Cited by 52 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 181 publications

(219 reference statements)

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“…An increase in animal productivity would help offset the additional cost of the feed additive and improve profitability [ 9 ]. 3-Nitrooxypropanol has been evaluated in approximately 28 in vivo and 7 in vitro ruminant studies and several recent meta-analyses have examined this substantial body of information to examine overall efficacy when 3-NOP is used for enteric CH 4 mitigation [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. 3-NOP could provide a feasible strategy for CH 4 mitigation if it is accepted by consumers and approved by regulatory authorities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of 3-Nitrooxypropanol for Enteric Methane Mitigation from Ruminant Livestock

Beauchemin

Dong

2021

Animals

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Methane (CH4) from enteric fermentation accounts for 3 to 5% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. Cost-effective strategies are needed to reduce feed energy losses as enteric CH4 while improving ruminant production efficiency. Mitigation strategies need to be environmentally friendly, easily adopted by producers and accepted by consumers. However, few sustainable CH4 mitigation approaches are available. Recent studies show that the chemically synthesized CH4 inhibitor 3-nitrooxypropanol is one of the most effective approaches for enteric CH4 abatement. 3-nitrooxypropanol specifically targets the methyl-coenzyme M reductase and inhibits the final catalytic step in methanogenesis in rumen archaea. Providing 3-nitrooxypropanol to dairy and beef cattle in research studies has consistently decreased enteric CH4 production by 30% on average, with reductions as high as 82% in some cases. Efficacy is positively related to 3-NOP dose and negatively affected by neutral detergent fiber concentration of the diet, with greater responses in dairy compared with beef cattle when compared at the same dose. This review collates the current literature on 3-nitrooxypropanol and examines the overall findings of meta-analyses and individual studies to provide a synthesis of science-based information on the use of 3-nitrooxypropanol for CH4 abatement. The intent is to help guide commercial adoption at the farm level in the future. There is a significant body of peer-reviewed scientific literature to indicate that 3-nitrooxypropanol is effective and safe when incorporated into total mixed rations, but further research is required to fully understand the long-term effects and the interactions with other CH4 mitigating compounds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of 3-Nitrooxypropanol for Enteric Methane Mitigation from Ruminant Livestock

Beauchemin

Dong

2021

Animals

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“…Similarly, the decrease in CH 4 production and yield by Asparagopsis spp. is related to its dose inclusion (Li et al, 2016;Roque et al, 2019Roque et al, , 2021Kinley et al, 2020), and considerably greater inhibition of CH 4 production than the 49% average (Almeida et al, 2021) has been reported (Table 3). Whilst all studies in Table 3 were conducted with beef and sheep, slightly less but still severe inhibition of methanogenesis (i.e., between 60 and 70%) has been reported in studies conducted with lactating dairy cows (Haisan et al, 2014;Roque et al, 2019).…”

Section: Pronounced Decrease Of Enteric Methane Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Meta-analyses have identified the dietary inclusion of chemical inhibitors of methanogenesis and the bromoformcontaining, red algae Asparagopsis spp., as the most effective strategies to decrease both total enteric CH 4 emissions per animal and enteric CH 4 emissions expressed per unit of dry matter intake (DMI), or CH 4 yield (Veneman et al, 2016;Almeida et al, 2021;Arndt et al, 2021). Although on average the decrease in enteric CH 4 yield (CH 4 produced per unit of DMI) caused by chemical inhibitors of methanogenesis was 25% (Veneman et al, 2016), 34% (Arndt et al, 2021) or 23% (Almeida et al, 2021), the antimethanogenic effects of chemical inhibitors are dosedependent (Mitsumori et al, 2012;Martinez-Fernandez et al, 2016;Dijkstra et al, 2018), and considerably greater decreases in CH 4 production e.g., >80% are possible (Table 3). Similarly, the decrease in CH 4 production and yield by Asparagopsis spp.…”

Section: Pronounced Decrease Of Enteric Methane Emissionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Perspectives on Achieving Pronounced Enteric Methane Mitigation From Ruminant Production

2022

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Limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2050 requires achieving net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and a strong decrease in methane (CH4) emissions. Our aim was to connect the global need for mitigation of the emissions of greenhouse gases and enteric CH4 from ruminant production to basic research on the biological consequences of inhibiting rumen methanogenesis in order to better design strategies for pronounced mitigation of enteric CH4 production without negative impacts on animal productivity or economic returns. Ruminant production worldwide has the challenge of decreasing its emissions of greenhouse gases while increasing the production of meat and milk to meet consumers demand. Production intensification decreases the emissions of greenhouse gases per unit of product, and in some instances has decreased total emissions, but in other instances has resulted in increased total emissions of greenhouse gases. We propose that decreasing total emission of greenhouse gases from ruminants in the next decades while simultaneously increasing meat and milk production will require strong inhibition of rumen methanogenesis. An aggressive approach to pronounced inhibition of enteric CH4 emissions is technically possible through the use of chemical compounds and/or bromoform-containing algae, but aspects such as safety, availability, government approval, consumer acceptance, and impacts on productivity and economic returns must be satisfactorily addressed. Feeding these additives will increase the cost of ruminant diets, which can discourage their adoption. On the other hand, inhibiting rumen methanogenesis potentially saves energy for the host animal and causes profound changes in rumen fermentation and post-absorptive metabolism. Understanding the biological consequences of methanogenesis inhibition could allow designing strategies to optimize the intervention. We conducted meta-regressions using published studies with at least one treatment with >50% inhibition of CH4 production to elucidate the responses of key rumen metabolites and animal variables to methanogenesis inhibition, and understand possible consequences on post-absorptive metabolism. We propose possible avenues, attainable through the understanding of biological consequences of the methanogenesis inhibition intervention, to increase animal productivity or decrease feed costs when inhibiting methanogenesis.

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“…Co-benefits can help drive practical adoption of the technology on farm. While research into reducing ruminant CH 4 emissions has been in progress for many years [ 45 , 46 ] and promising mitigation approaches are being developed [ 47 ], emergence of co-benefits from these approaches is not being observed consistently. This is contrary to the frequently stated hypothesis that ruminal CH 4 production represents a loss of energy, from 2 to 12% of gross energy intake [ 48 ], which could in principle otherwise be available for animal growth or milk production.…”

Section: Redirecting Hydrogen Metabolism and Ruminant Methane Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several alternative electron acceptors have been added to ruminant diets in attempts to alter the rumen fermentation and reduce CH 4 production. Nitrate is the most studied compound [ 46 ] and is reduced via nitrite to ammonia, reducing the availability of H 2 for CH 4 synthesis. Sulfate reduction will also compete for electrons and H 2 and may lower CH 4 production [ 30 ].…”

Section: Redirecting Hydrogen Metabolism and Ruminant Methane Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogen and formate production and utilisation in the rumen and the human colon

et al. 2022

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Molecular hydrogen (H2) and formate (HCOO−) are metabolic end products of many primary fermenters in the mammalian gut. Both play a vital role in fermentation where they are electron sinks for individual microbes in an anaerobic environment that lacks external electron acceptors. If H2 and/or formate accumulate within the gut ecosystem, the ability of primary fermenters to regenerate electron carriers may be inhibited and microbial metabolism and growth disrupted. Consequently, H2- and/or formate-consuming microbes such as methanogens and homoacetogens play a key role in maintaining the metabolic efficiency of primary fermenters. There is increasing interest in identifying approaches to manipulate mammalian gut environments for the benefit of the host and the environment. As H2 and formate are important mediators of interspecies interactions, an understanding of their production and utilisation could be a significant entry point for the development of successful interventions. Ruminant methane mitigation approaches are discussed as a model to help understand the fate of H2 and formate in gut systems.

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Meta-analysis quantifying the potential of dietary additives and rumen modifiers for methane mitigation in ruminant production systems

Cited by 52 publications

References 181 publications

A Review of 3-Nitrooxypropanol for Enteric Methane Mitigation from Ruminant Livestock

A Review of 3-Nitrooxypropanol for Enteric Methane Mitigation from Ruminant Livestock

Current Perspectives on Achieving Pronounced Enteric Methane Mitigation From Ruminant Production

Hydrogen and formate production and utilisation in the rumen and the human colon

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