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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #384939
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification of Integrated Crop-Pasture-Livestock Systems in Northeastern Landscapes

Location: Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research

Title: Effects of supplementation of oilseeds to an herbage-based diet high in condensed tannins on methane production and ruminal fermentation in continuous culture

Author
item Billman, Eric
item DILLARD, LEANNE - Auburn University
item Soder, Kathy
item ROCA-FERNANDEZ, ANA - Universidad De Santiago De Compostela

Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2021
Publication Date: 5/20/2021
Citation: Billman, E.D., Dillard, L.S., Soder, K.J., Roca-Fernandez, A. 2021. Effects of supplementation of oilseeds to an herbage-based diet high in condensed tannins on methane production and ruminal fermentation in continuous culture[abstract]. American Forage and Grassland Conference Proceedings. p. 1.

Interpretive Summary: No Interpretive Summary is required for this Abstract Only. JLB.

Technical Abstract: Compounds in plants, such as condensed tannins (CT), may reduce methane (CH4) production in ruminants, but have negative impacts on ruminal fermentation. Supplementation with oilseeds may maintain ruminal fermentation, while further reducing methane. A 4-unit continuous culture fermentor system was used to assess nutrient digestibility, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, bacterial protein synthesis and CH4 production of various sources of oilseeds to improve nutrient digestibility of high-CT diets while further reducing enteric CH4 production. The experimental design was a 4 × 4 Latin square, with 4 diets: a basal diet of 45% orchardgrass and 45% CT-containing sericea lespedeza plus 10% oilseed of either canola (CAN), soybean (SOY), sunflower (SUN), or equal proportions of all three oilseeds (MIX). Samples for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber were collected to determine nutrient digestibilities. Bacterial protein synthesis and VFA analyses were evaluated. Gas samples for CH4 analysis were recorded by a photoacoustic field gas monitor. The SOY diet had greater (P < 0.001) CH4 production than any of the other oilseeds. Nutrient digestibilities and bacterial N metabolism or flows were not affected (P > 0.05) by oilseed source. The addition of canola and sunflower seed meal to forages high in CT may provide excellent reductions in daily CH4 emissions, while maintaining desirable feed digestibility in cattle.