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Development and In-Vitro Assessment of Novel Oxygen-Releasing Feed Additives to Reduce Enteric Ruminant Methane Emissions

SSRN, ISSN: 1556-5068
2024
  • 1
    Citations
  • 464
    Usage
  • 0
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    1
    • Citation Indexes
      1
  • Usage
    464
    • Abstract Views
      341
    • Downloads
      123
  • Ratings
    • Download Rank
      460,678

Article Description

Ruminant livestock contribute significantly to global methane production and mitigation of which is of utmost importance. Feed additives represent a cost-effective means of achieving this. A potential target for such additives is rumen Oxidative Reduction Potential (ORP), a parameter which influences CH4 production rates, with methanogenesis occurring optimally at ORPs between -300 to -600 millivolts. Thus, a controlled elevation of rumen ORP represents a potentially benign means of methanogen suppression. This research involved assessing a range of oxygen-releasing compounds for their ability to increase rumen ORP and inhibit methanogenesis, using the in-vitro rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Seven potential CH4 inhibitors were tested in a 21-day trial monitoring biogas volume, CH4 content, ORP, digestibility, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids concentration. The additives evaluated included: liquid peroxide (H2O2) and urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP), as well as slower reacting species (sodium percarbonate and both calcium and magnesium peroxide), in addition to liquid H2O2 encapsulated for controlled, slow release. Consistent CH4 reductions of >50% were observed from all additives, with no significant negative impact on concentrate digestibility, and minimal negative impact on forage digestibility confined to some treatments. Ammonia increased in UHP and MgO2 treatments (p > 0.05) and was reduced in all other treatments (p < 0.05), with the encapsulated liquid H2O2 causing the smallest reduction. Total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were reduced in all treatments except MgO2 and encapsulated H2O2. A controlled additive release was observed in the slow-release format of encapsulated liquid H2O2. Potential slow-release forms deemed suitable to progress to bolus or pellet format in-vivo were also identified. Slow-release formats may enable a longer-lasting suppression of methanogens within the rumen, facilitating application in both intensive and pasture-based production systems.

Bibliographic Details

Alison Graham; Camilla Thorn; Michael McDonagh; Caroline O&apos;Donnell; Stephen Nolan; Stuart Kirwan; Sandra O'Connor; Corine O. Nzeteu; Alejandra C. V. Montoya; Andrew Bartle; Alison Hall; Cathy Abberton; Ruairi Friel; Sinead M. Waters; Vincent O&apos;Flaherty

Elsevier BV

Multidisciplinary; Oxygen-releasing compounds; RUSITEC; Feed additives; Enteric methane; Oxidative Reduction Potential

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