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Title: Methane Emission by Goats Consuming Condensed Tannin-containing Forage at Different Frequencies

Author
item PUCHALA, R - LANGSTON UNIVERSITY
item ANIMUT, G - LANGSTON UNIVERSITY
item GOETSCH, A - LANGSTON UNIVERSITY
item SAHLU, T - LANGSTON UNIVERSITY
item Varel, Vincent
item Wells, James - Jim

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/9/2009
Publication Date: 7/12/2009
Citation: Puchala, R., Animut, G., Goetsch, A.L., Sahlu, T., Varel, V.H., Wells, J. 2009. Methane Emission by Goats Consuming Condensed Tannin-containing Forage at Different Frequencies [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science 87 (E-Supplement 2):483.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Twenty-four yearling Boer and Spanish wethers (33.5 ± 0.36 kg BW) were used in a 32-d experiment to assess effects of frequency of feeding condensed tannin (CT)-containing fresh sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) on ruminal methane (CH4) emission. Fresh SL (15.3% CT) was fed free-choice every day (1SL), other day (2SL), fourth day (4SL), and eighth day (8SL), with the ad libitum consumption of fresh alfalfa (0.2% CT) on other days. Measures occurred on the last 8 d of the experiment. Ruminal fluid for microbial assays was collected 1 d after SL feeding and at the end of the longest interval (short and long interval samples, respectively). Data were analyzed using mixed model procedures of SAS (Version 8.2, 2001, SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Average daily DMI (0.94, 0.96, 1.01, and 0.95 kg, respectively; SEM = 0.057) was similar among treatments, and average daily heat production was less (P < 0.05) for 1SL and 2SL vs. 4 SL and 8SL (444, 452, 531, and 530 kJ/kg BW0.75). Average daily CH4 emission differed among all treatments (P < 0.05; 9.7, 11.6, 15.5, and 18.3 g/d, respectively), but emission on days when SL was fed did not differ (9.7, 10.2, 10.7, and 10.7 g/d for 1SL, 2SL, 4SL, and 8SL, respectively; SEM = 0.64). The number of protozoa in the short interval sample was similar among treatments (5.2, 5.3, 5.7, and 6.5 x 105/mL; SEM = 0.98), whereas the number in the long interval sample differed among treatments (P < 0.05; 6.5, 10.4, 18.4, and 20.5 x 105/mL for 1SL, 2SL, 4SL, and 8SL, respectively; SEM = 1.84). In vitro CH4 emission (3-wk incubation for methanogens) was similar among treatments for the short interval sample (18.2, 18.2, 19.7, and 20.0 mL; SE = 1.45) but less (P < 0.05) for 1SL and 2SL vs. 4SL and 8SL in the long interval sample (20.5, 20.3, 26.3, and 29.5 mL, respectively). In conclusion, greatest effects of CT of SL occurred with daily feeding, although there were carryover effects with 2SL. The influence of SL CT on CH4 emission was immediate with no or minimal time for adaptation, and the effect appeared attributable to activity of methanogenic bacteria and protozoa.