Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #338966
Title: Effect of oilseed source on ruminal fermentation and methane production of a grass-legume diet in continuous culture

Author
item ROCA-FERNANDEZ, ANA - Universidad De Chile
item Dillard, Sandra
item Dell, Curtis
item MACADAM, JENNIFER - Utah State University
item Soder, Kathy

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2017
Publication Date: 7/5/2017
Citation: Roca-Fernandez, A., Dillard, S.L., Dell, C.J., Macadam, J., Soder, K.J. 2017. Effect of oilseed source on ruminal fermentation and methane production of a grass-legume diet in continuous culture. American Society of Animal Science.95(4):133.

Interpretive Summary: No Interpretive Summary is required. JLB.

Technical Abstract: Addition of oilseeds to pasture-based ruminant diets has been shown to decrease enteric CH4 emissions. However, little research has directly compared the effect of oilseed source on ruminal fermentation and Methane (CH4) production. A 4-unit continuous culture fermentor system was used to test 4 oilseeds supplemented to a 45% orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) + 45% sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata Don. cv. Auburn Grazer) diet. Oilseeds (supplemented at 10% of total DM fed) were: soybean (SOY), sunflower (SUN), canola (CAN), and a mixture of equal proportions of SOY, SUN and CAN (MIX). Diets were randomly assigned to fermentors in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Feeding occurred 4 times daily throughout 4, 10-d periods using 7 d for adaptation and 3 d for collection. Effluent samples were analyzed for pH, VFA, and DM, OM, ADF and NDF digestibilities. Gas samples were recorded using a photoacoustic gas analyzer for total daily CH4 production. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with treatment as a fixed effect and fermentor and period as random effects. No differences (P > 0.10) were found for pH (7.10) among oilseeds. Total VFA concentration was greatest (P < 0.01) in SOY (46.0 mmol/L), with no differences (P > 0.05) among other oilseeds (38.2 mmol/L). There were no differences (P > 0.05) among oilseeds in molar proportions of acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate and valerate. No differences (p > 0.10) were found for apparent and true DM and OM digestibilities, or apparent ADF and NDF digestibilities. Total daily CH4 production and total CH4 production per gram of nutrients fed or per gram of digestible nutrients fed were greatest (P < 0.001) in SOY. The SOY produced daily 68, 81, and 85% greater (P < 0.001) amounts of CH4 (11.6 g/d) compared to SUN, CAN and MIX, respectively. No differences (P > 0.05) were found between SUN, CAN and MIX for total daily CH4 production or total CH4 production per gram of DM, OM, ADF and NDF fed or per gram of digestible OM fed. The SOY produced greater (P < 0.001) amounts of CH4 per gram of digestible DM fed or per gram of digestible ADF and NDF fed than MIX, with SUN and CAN showing intermediate levels. Addition of oilseeds such as SUN and CAN to a grass-legume diet is a potentially environmentally-friendly feeding strategy to reduce enteric CH4 emissions without negatively impacting ruminal fermentation.