Methane production from dairy and beef heifers fed forages differing in nutrient density using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) tracer gas technique

Abstract

. 2002. Methane production from dairy and beef heifers fed forages differing in nutrient density using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) tracer gas technique. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 82: [201][202][203][204][205][206]. The effects of cattle breed type [dairy (Holstein) versus beef (Charolais × Simmental)] and forage quality (high, medium and low) on methane production were measured under ad-libitum and restricted feeding conditions. The in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of the forage diets was high = 61.5%, medium = 50.7% and low = 38.5%. Each hay diet was fed to four animals (two dairy and two beef heifers) in three periods of four 3 × 3 Latin squares. Each period consisted of 23 d during which heifers were individually fed their assigned forage for 14 d on ad-libitum feeding. Following this, intake was restricted to 2% of body weight (BW) for 9 d. Methane production was measured for five 24-h intervals in each period at both levels of intake using the SF 6 gas technique. Methane production was not different (P > 0.05) between dairy (238.0 ± 6.9 L d -1 ) and beef cattle (228.6 ± 7.8 L d -1 ) under either level of feeding. Forage quality affected CH 4 (L d -1 ) output, with high = medium > low during ad-libitum feeding. This effect of forage quality on CH 4 production was absent during restricted feeding (P > 0.05). Day-to-day variation in CH 4 production was 26.9 and 27.1% on ad-libitum and restricted feeding respectively (P < 0.05), whereas animal-to-animal variation (P < 0.05) was 26.6% (ad libitum) and 25.3% (restricted). On ad-libitum feeding, dry matter intake (DMI) was strongly correlated (P = 0.0001; r = 0.8) with CH 4 production (L d -1 ), and accounted for 64% of daily variation in CH 4 production. Methane [L kg -1 digestible organic matter intake (DOMI)] was highest (P < 0.05) on low-quality diets under both feeding regimes, and was not influenced (P > 0.05) by cattle type. Methane production as a percent of gross energy intake (GEI) was not influenced by diet. It can be concluded that the SF 6 tracer technique provides a measure of enteric CH 4 production directly from animals under production conditions. There were no differences in CH 4 production between dairy and beef breeds, but the quality of forages affected CH 4 production under both ad-libitum and restricted feeding. Les auteurs ont mesuré l'incidence du type de bovin [race laitière (Holstein) ou de boucherie (Charolais × Simmental)]et de la qualité du fourrage (haute, moyenne, faible) sur le volume de méthane produit par des génisses nourries à satiété ou rationnées. La digestibilité in vitro de la matière sèche organique correspondait à 61,5 % pour le fourrage de haute qualité, à 50,7 % pour celui de qualité moyenne et à 38,5 % pour celui de faible qualité. Chaque type de fourrage a été servi à quatre animaux (2 géniss-es laitières et 2 de boucherie) trois périodes durant, en quatre carrés latins 3 × 3. Chaque période comportait 23 jours durant lesquels les animaux ont chacun reçu le type de fourrage qui leur avait été attribué à sat...

Effects of nitrogen fertilisation rate and maturity of grass silage on methane emission by lactating dairy cows

“…No further in vivo data are available to support our findings on grass silage-fed dairy cows. However, the present results are in line with a study of Boadi and Wittenberg (2002) in which medium-quality grass hay (50.7% in vitro OM digestibility) generated 10% more CH 4 per unit of DOMI than high-quality grass hay (61.5% in vitro OM digestibility) offered restrictedly to dairy and beef heifers, and in line with a study of Pinares-Patiño et al (2003) in which Charolais cows grazing timothy at heading stage (74.8% OM digestibility based on faecal N index method) produced 12% more CH 4 per unit of DOMI than when grazing timothy at early-vegetative stage (77.6% OM digestibility). In contrast, when dairy cows were offered grass herbage under zero-grazing conditions (Warner et al, 2015), CH 4 per unit of DOMI was not affected by either grass maturity or N fertilisation rate, whereas CH 4 declined by 9% per unit of DNDFI with high-compared with low-fertilised grass (90 v. 20 kg of N/ha, respectively).…”

“…A recent study with lactating cows indicated a substantial reduction (−15%) in CH 4 yield per unit of digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) for early-cut compared with late-cut (cut 3 weeks later) ryegrass-clover silage (Brask et al, 2013). Similar findings were reported for beef and dairy cattle fed various grass hay qualities (Boadi and Wittenberg, 2002).…”

Evaluation of feeds from tropical origin for in vitro methane production potential and rumen fermentation in vitro

“…Overall, straws produced relatively more methane compared with forages. Boadi & Wittenberg (2002) also found that methane production (L/kg digestible OM intake) was 25% higher for low quality forages than medium or high nutritional quality diets. Again, increasing the levels of green fodder such as berseem, oat and sorghum in straw-and stover-based diets may lower methane production.…”

Estimates of enteric methane emissions from cattle in Canada using the IPCC Tier-2 methodology

“…The IPCC Tier-1 emission factors (kg CH 4 head -1 yr -1 ) used were: 56 for dairy heifers; 118 for dairy cows; 75 for bulls; 72 for beef cows; 56 for beef heifers; 47 for calves; 47 for steers; and 47 for heifers for slaughter (IPCC 1997;Olsen et al 2003). Emission factors generated from CRS were based on the following studies: (1) Boadi and Wittenberg (2002) in which yearling dairy heifers with an initial weight of 310 kg produced 258 L CH 4 d -1 or 6.7% GEI; (2) Kinsman et al (1995) in which lactating dairy cows with an initial weight of 602 kg produced 552 L CH 4 d -1 or 8.9% GEI; (3) Boadi and Wittenberg (2002) in which beef heifers with an initial weight of 310 kg (confined, restricted intake of grass-legume hay) produced 195.8 L CH 4 d -1 or 6.9% GEI ; (4) Boadi and Wittenberg (2002) and in which beef yearling heifers with an initial weight of 310 kg (confined, ad-libitum feeding) produced 258.7 L CH 4 d -1 and beef yearling steers with an initial weight of 262 kg (confined ad-libitum feeding) produced 193.3 L CH 4 d -1 , respectively, with an average methane loss of 6.0% GEI; (6) McCaughey et al (1999) in which first calf cows with an initial body weight of 511.2 kg, grazing grass pastures produced 411.0 L CH 4 d -1 or 9.5% GEI; (7) Ominski et al (2006) in which 343 kg beef yearling steers grazing grass-based pastures produced 198 L CH 4 d -1 or 8.7% GEI, and (8) Boadi et al (2004b) in which feedlot steers with an initial body weight of 252 kg fed a diet con- For some classes of cattle (i.e., bulls), CRS have not been conducted, and therefore the most appropriate Y m values reported in the literature were used. As described above, for most categories, the time that cattle are in a given production is less than a year.…”

“…The IPCC Tier-1 emission factors (kg CH 4 head -1 yr -1 ) used were: 56 for dairy heifers; 118 for dairy cows; 75 for bulls; 72 for beef cows; 56 for beef heifers; 47 for calves; 47 for steers; and 47 for heifers for slaughter (IPCC 1997;Olsen et al 2003). Emission factors generated from CRS were based on the following studies: (1) Boadi and Wittenberg (2002) For some classes of cattle (i.e., bulls), CRS have not been conducted, and therefore the most appropriate Y m values reported in the literature were used. As described above, for most categories, the time that cattle are in a given production is less than a year.…”