1
|
Moate PJ, Pryce JE, Marett LC, Garner JB, Deighton MH, Ribaux BE, Hannah MC, Wales WJ, Williams SRO. Measurement of Enteric Methane Emissions by the SF 6 Technique Is Not Affected by Ambient Weather Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020528. [PMID: 33670674 PMCID: PMC7922900 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although the SF6 technique was developed over 25 years ago with the intention that it could be used to measure enteric methane production from ruminants outdoors, no experiments have reported the influence of ambient wind speed, temperature, humidity or rainfall on the accuracy of the technique. Six different cohorts of dairy cows (40 per cohort) were kept outdoors and fed a common diet during spring in 3 consecutive years. Individual cow feed intakes and daily methane productions were measured over 5 consecutive days and an automatic weather station measured air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and rainfall every 10 min. Regression analyses were used to relate the average daily temperature, wind speed, humidity and rainfall to the average daily dry matter intake, methane production and methane yield of each cohort of cows. It was concluded that the modified SF6 technique can be used outdoors during a range of weather conditions without a significant effect on the measurement of methane production or methane yield of dairy cows. Abstract Despite the fact that the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique was developed over 25 years ago to measure methane production from grazing and non-housed animals, no studies have specifically investigated whether ambient wind speed, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall influence the accuracy of the method. The aim of this research was to investigate how these weather factors influence the measurement of enteric methane production by the SF6 technique. Six different cohorts of dairy cows (40 per cohort) were kept outdoors and fed a common diet during spring in 3 consecutive years. Methane production from individual cows was measured daily over the last 5 days of each 32-day period. An automated weather station measured air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and rainfall every 10 min. Regression analyses were used to relate the average daily wind speed, average daily temperature, average daily relative humidity and total daily rainfall measurements to dry matter intake, average daily methane production and methane yield of each cohort of cows. It was concluded that the modified SF6 technique can be used outdoors during a range of wind speeds, ambient temperatures, relative humidities and rainfall conditions without causing a significant effect on the measurement of methane production or methane yield of dairy cows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Moate
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia; (L.C.M.); (J.B.G.); (B.E.R.); (M.C.H.); (W.J.W.); (S.R.O.W.)
- Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Jennie E. Pryce
- Agriculture Victoria Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia;
| | - Leah C. Marett
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia; (L.C.M.); (J.B.G.); (B.E.R.); (M.C.H.); (W.J.W.); (S.R.O.W.)
- Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Josie B. Garner
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia; (L.C.M.); (J.B.G.); (B.E.R.); (M.C.H.); (W.J.W.); (S.R.O.W.)
| | | | - Brigid E. Ribaux
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia; (L.C.M.); (J.B.G.); (B.E.R.); (M.C.H.); (W.J.W.); (S.R.O.W.)
| | - Murray C. Hannah
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia; (L.C.M.); (J.B.G.); (B.E.R.); (M.C.H.); (W.J.W.); (S.R.O.W.)
| | - William J. Wales
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia; (L.C.M.); (J.B.G.); (B.E.R.); (M.C.H.); (W.J.W.); (S.R.O.W.)
- Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - S. Richard O. Williams
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia; (L.C.M.); (J.B.G.); (B.E.R.); (M.C.H.); (W.J.W.); (S.R.O.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhao Y, Nan X, Yang L, Zheng S, Jiang L, Xiong B. A Review of Enteric Methane Emission Measurement Techniques in Ruminants. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10061004. [PMID: 32521767 PMCID: PMC7341254 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify relationships between animal, dietary and management factors and the resulting methane (CH4) emissions, and to identify potential mitigation strategies for CH4 production, it is vital to develop reliable and accurate CH4 measurement techniques. This review outlines various methods for measuring enteric CH4 emissions from ruminants such as respiration chambers (RC), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer, GreenFeed, sniffer method, ventilated hood, facemask, laser CH4 detector and portable accumulation chamber. The advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are discussed. In general, RC, SF6 and ventilated hood are capable of 24 h continuous measurements for each individual animal, providing accurate reference methods used for research and inventory purposes. However, they require high labor input, animal training and are time consuming. In contrast, short-term measurement techniques (i.e., GreenFeed, sniffer method, facemask, laser CH4 detector and portable accumulation chamber) contain additional variations in timing and frequency of measurements obtained relative to the 24 h feeding cycle. However, they are suitable for large-scale measurements under commercial conditions due to their simplicity and high throughput. Successful use of these techniques relies on optimal matching between the objectives of the studies and the mechanism of each method with consideration of animal behavior and welfare. This review can provide useful information in selecting suitable techniques for CH4 emission measurement in ruminants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiguang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Xuemei Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Liang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Shanshan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Linshu Jiang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (B.X.); Tel.: +86-10-8079-8101 (L.J.); +86-10-6281-1680 (B.X.)
| | - Benhai Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (B.X.); Tel.: +86-10-8079-8101 (L.J.); +86-10-6281-1680 (B.X.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Philippeau C, Lettat A, Martin C, Silberberg M, Morgavi D, Ferlay A, Berger C, Nozière P. Effects of bacterial direct-fed microbials on ruminal characteristics, methane emission, and milk fatty acid composition in cows fed high- or low-starch diets. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:2637-2650. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-11663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
4
|
McDonnell RP, Hart KJ, Boland TM, Kelly AK, McGee M, Kenny DA. Effect of divergence in phenotypic residual feed intake on methane emissions, ruminal fermentation, and apparent whole-tract digestibility of beef heifers across three contrasting diets. J Anim Sci 2016; 94:1179-93. [PMID: 27065279 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the effect of divergent phenotypic ranking for residual feed intake (RFI) on ruminal CH emissions, diet digestibility, and indices of ruminal fermentation in heifers across 3 commercially relevant diets. Twenty-eight Limousin × Friesian heifers were used and were ranked on the basis of phenotypic RFI: 14 low-RFI and 14 high-RFI animals. Ruminal CH emissions were estimated over 5 d using the SF tracer gas technique on 3 successive occasions: 1) at the end of a 6-wk period (Period 1) on grass silage (GS), 2) at the end of an 8-wk period (Period 2) at pasture, and 3) at the end of a 5-wk period (Period 3) on a 30:70 corn silage:concentrate total mixed ration (TMR). Animals were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water at all times. Individual DMI was estimated during CH measurement and rumen samples were taken at the end of each CH measurement period. Diet type affected all feed intake and CH traits measured ( < 0.01) but was unavoidably confounded with animal age/size and experimental period. Correlation coefficients between RFI and DMI were significant ( < 0.05) only when animals were fed the TMR. Daily CH correlated with DMI ( = 0.42, < 0.05) only when animals grazed pasture. Daily DMI was lower in low-RFI animals ( = 0.047) but only when expressed as grams per kilogram metabolic BW. Absolute CH emissions did not differ between RFI groups ( > 0.05), but CH yield was greatest in low-RFI heifers ( = 0.03) as a proportion of both DMI and GE intake. Interactions between the main effects were observed ( < 0.05) for CP digestibility (CPD), DM digestibility (DMD), ruminal propionate, and the acetate:propionate ratio. Low-RFI animals had greater ( < 0.05) CPD and DMD than their high-RFI contemporaries when offered GS but not the other 2 diets. Low-RFI heifers also had greater OM digestibility ( = 0.027). Additionally, low-RFI heifers had a lower concentration of propionate ( < 0.05) compared with high-RFI heifers when fed GS, resulting in a greater ( < 0.05) acetate:propionate ratio. However, these differences were not evident for the other 2 diets. Energetically efficient animals do not have a lower ruminal methanogenic potential compared with their more inefficient counterparts and, indeed, some evidence to the contrary was found, which may reflect the greater nutrient digestive potential observed in low-RFI cattle.
Collapse
|
5
|
Hammond K, Crompton L, Bannink A, Dijkstra J, Yáñez-Ruiz D, O’Kiely P, Kebreab E, Eugène M, Yu Z, Shingfield K, Schwarm A, Hristov A, Reynolds C. Review of current in vivo measurement techniques for quantifying enteric methane emission from ruminants. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2016.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
6
|
Hristov A, Oh J, Giallongo F, Frederick T, Harper M, Weeks H, Branco A, Price W, Moate P, Deighton M, Williams S, Kindermann M, Duval S. Short communication: Comparison of the GreenFeed system with the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique for measuring enteric methane emissions from dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2016; 99:5461-5465. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-10897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
7
|
Patra AK. Recent Advances in Measurement and Dietary Mitigation of Enteric Methane Emissions in Ruminants. Front Vet Sci 2016; 3:39. [PMID: 27243027 PMCID: PMC4873495 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2016.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane (CH4) emission, which is mainly produced during normal fermentation of feeds by the rumen microorganisms, represents a major contributor to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Several enteric CH4 mitigation technologies have been explored recently. A number of new techniques have also been developed and existing techniques have been improved in order to evaluate CH4 mitigation technologies and prepare an inventory of GHG emissions precisely. The aim of this review is to discuss different CH4 measuring and mitigation technologies, which have been recently developed. Respiration chamber technique is still considered as a gold standard technique due to its greater precision and reproducibility in CH4 measurements. With the adoption of recent recommendations for improving the technique, the SF6 method can be used with a high level of precision similar to the chamber technique. Short-term measurement techniques of CH4 measurements generally invite considerable within- and between-animal variations. Among the short-term measuring techniques, Greenfeed and methane hood systems are likely more suitable for evaluation of CH4 mitigation studies, if measurements could be obtained at different times of the day relative to the diurnal cycle of the CH4 production. Carbon dioxide and CH4 ratio, sniffer, and other short-term breath analysis techniques are more suitable for on farm screening of large number of animals to generate the data of low CH4-producing animals for genetic selection purposes. Different indirect measuring techniques are also investigated in recent years. Several new dietary CH4 mitigation technologies have been explored, but only a few of them are practical and cost-effective. Future research should be directed toward both the medium- and long-term mitigation strategies, which could be utilized on farms to accomplish substantial reductions of CH4 emissions and to profitably reduce carbon footprint of livestock production systems. This review presents recent developments and critical analysis on different measurements and dietary mitigation of enteric CH4 emissions technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amlan K. Patra
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dorich C, Varner R, Pereira A, Martineau R, Soder K, Brito A. Short communication: Use of a portable, automated, open-circuit gas quantification system and the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique for measuring enteric methane emissions in Holstein cows fed ad libitum or restricted. J Dairy Sci 2015; 98:2676-81. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-8348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
9
|
Moate P, Deighton M, Ribaux B, Hannah M, Wales W, Williams S. Michaelis–Menten kinetics predict the rate of SF6 release from permeation tubes used to estimate methane emissions from ruminants. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
10
|
Deighton MH, Williams SRO, Hannah MC, Eckard RJ, Boland TM, Wales WJ, Moate PJ. A modified sulphur hexafluoride tracer technique enables accurate determination of enteric methane emissions from ruminants. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
11
|
Methane emissions from beef cattle grazing on semi-natural upland and improved lowland grasslands. Animal 2014; 9:130-7. [PMID: 25167210 DOI: 10.1017/s1751731114002067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In ruminants, methane (CH4) is a by-product of digestion and contributes significantly to the greenhouse gas emissions attributed to agriculture. Grazed grass is a relatively cheap and nutritious feed but herbage species and nutritional quality vary between pastures, with management, land type and season all potentially impacting on animal performance and CH4 production. The objective of this study was to evaluate performance and compare CH4 emissions from cattle of dairy and beef origin grazing two grassland ecosystems: lowland improved grassland (LG) and upland semi-natural grassland (UG). Forty-eight spring-born beef cattle (24 Holstein-Friesian steers, 14 Charolais crossbred steers and 10 Charolais crossbred heifers of 407 (s.d. 29), 469 (s.d. 36) and 422 (s.d. 50) kg BW, respectively), were distributed across two balanced groups that grazed the UG and LG sites from 1 June to 29 September at stocking rates (number of animals per hectare) of 1.4 and 6.7, respectively. Methane emissions and feed dry matter (DM) intake were estimated by the SF6 tracer and n-alkane techniques, respectively, and BW was recorded across three experimental periods that reflected the progression of the grazing season. Overall, cattle grazed on UG had significantly lower (P<0.001) mean daily DM intake (8.68 v. 9.55 kg/day), CH4 emissions (176 v. 202 g/day) and BW gain (BWG; 0.73 v. 1.08 kg/day) than the cattle grazed on LG but there was no difference (P>0.05) in CH4 emissions per unit of feed intake when expressed either on a DM basis (20.7 and 21.6 g CH4 per kg DM intake for UG and LG, respectively) or as a percentage of the gross energy intake (6.0% v. 6.5% for UG and LG, respectively). However, cattle grazing UG had significantly (P<0.001) greater mean daily CH4 emissions than those grazing LG when expressed relative to BWG (261 v. 197 g CH4/kg, respectively). The greater DM intake and BWG of cattle grazing LG than UG reflected the poorer nutritive value of the UG grassland. Although absolute rates of CH4 emissions (g/day) were lower from cattle grazing UG than LG, cattle grazing UG would be expected to take longer to reach an acceptable finishing weight, thereby potentially off-setting this apparent advantage. Methane emissions constitute an adverse environmental impact of grazing by cattle but the contribution of cattle to ecosystem management (i.e. promoting biodiversity) should also be considered when evaluating the usefulness of different breeds for grazing semi-natural or unimproved grassland.
Collapse
|
12
|
Hu E, Babcock EL, Bialkowski SE, Jones SB, Tuller M. Methods and Techniques for Measuring Gas Emissions from Agricultural and Animal Feeding Operations. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2014; 44:200-19. [DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2013.843055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|