Methane Generation from the Intestine of Muscovy Ducks, Mule Ducks and White Roman Geese

Abstract

Livestock are one of the largest single sources of methane emissions, which is a greenhouse gas. In this study, alfalfa meal was tested as a feed additive to lower the methane generation in the three species of waterfowl. Four experiments were conducted to determine methane generation in the intestines of Muscovy ducks, mule ducks and White Roman geese of the same age and with the same diet. In experiment I, the in vitro methane generation of the cecal contents was the largest compared to other intestinal compartments in each species (p < 0.05). Moreover, the methane generation of the cecal content or colon and rectum in goslings was higher than in mule and Muscovy ducklings (p < 0.05) at six weeks of age. In experiment II, the cumulative methane generation in the cecal content of mule ducks at 8 weeks of age was the largest among all species (p < 0.05). In experiment III, 4-month-old Muscovy ducks had the highest average methane generation per bird per day among the three species (p < 0.05). In experiment IV, the methane generation of the cecal content in birds fed a grower diet supplemented with a 30% alfalfa meal diet was lower than that of birds fed grower diet for all three species. Based on the above results, it is suggested that age, the method of measurement (in vitro vs. in vivo) and composition of diet significantly affect the level of methane generation in the intestine for Muscovy ducks, mule ducks and White Roman geese. The amounts of methane generation of the cecal contents in the three species were 36.1, 13.9, and 34.2 µg/g/4 h, respectively. By adding 30% alfalfa meal, the cumulative methane generation of the cecal contents for the three species were reduced by 63.3-95.5%. The addition of alfalfa meal to feed thus has good potential with regard to decreasing greenhouse gases emissions from waterfowl.

Avian Physiology: Are Birds Simply Feathered Mammals?

“…In contrast, nitrous oxide emission from geese is not influenced by cecectomy (Chen et al, 2003) ( Table 5). Addition of alfalfa can reduce methane production by over 70% in Muscovy ducks, mule ducks and white Roman geese (Chen et al, 2014). Interestingly, there was no overall effect of addition of antibiotics to feed on VFA production by chickens (Kumar et al, 2018).…”

Factors affecting In vitro methane production from cecum contents of White Roman geese

“…Additionally, CH 4 production from manure produced in the livestock and poultry industries is a major GHG source (Yang et al, 2003;Zhou et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2017). Geese ceca are major places for in vivo CH 4 production (Chen et al, 2009;Chen et al, 2014). Chen et al (2003) showed CH 4 production from caecectomized geese was only 8 -10% of that of sham-operated geese.…”

“…Nutrients of cecal contents in poultry can be fermented and converted into short-chain (2 -5 carbons) fatty acids and biogas (e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide and CH 4 ) by microorganisms (Marounek et al, 1999;Chen et al, 2014). Besides, microorganisms cultured from poultry and cattle can generate CH 4 (Van Kessel & Russell, 1996;Montagna et al, 2019), suggesting that microorganisms in poultry ceca and bovine rumen fluids have similar functions.…”

“…temperature and salinity) on the methanogenesis of their cecal contents. An incubation temperature of 39 °C was used to investigate methanogenesis of cecal content fermentation of chickens (Tsukahara & Ushida, 2000) and cows (Van Kessel & Russell, 1996;Lalla et al, 1998), whereas 38 ºC was used for geese (Chen et al, 2014). Waterfowl (e.g.…”

“…Waterfowl (e.g. swans, geese, and ducks) usually have higher body temperatures, ranging from 40 °C to 43 °C (Stanier et al, 1984;Whittow, 1986), but CH 4 production from the cecal contents of geese under various in vitro incubation temperatures has not been fully addressed, nor has salinity in the culture media (Chen et al, 2014). Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the effects of incubation conditions (times, pH, temperature, formic acid concentration, and the presence of saline) on CH 4 production from the cecal fluid of White Roman geese to achieve strategies to lower CH 4 emission and global warming.…”