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Ungerfeld EM, Pitta D. Review: Biological consequences of the inhibition of rumen methanogenesis. Animal 2024:101170. [PMID: 38772773 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Decreasing enteric CH4 emissions from ruminants is important for containing global warming to 1.5 °C and avoid the worst consequences of climate change. However, the objective of mitigating enteric CH4 emissions is difficult to reconcile with the forecasted increase in production of ruminant meat and milk, unless CH4 production per animal and per kilogram of animal product are decreased substantially. Chemical compound 3-nitrooxypropanol and bromoform-containing red algae Asparagopsis are currently the most potent inhibitors of rumen methanogenesis, but their average efficacy would have to be increased to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions to contain global warming to 1.5 °C, if the demand for ruminant products increases as predicted. We propose that it may be possible to enhance the efficacy of inhibitors of methanogenesis through understanding the mechanisms that cause variation in their efficacy across studies. We also propose that a more thorough understanding of the effects of inhibiting methanogenesis on rumen and postabsorptive metabolism may help improve feed efficiency and cost-effectiveness as co-benefits of the methanogenesis inhibition intervention. For enhancing efficacy, we examine herein how different inhibitors of methanogenesis affect the composition of the rumen microbial community and discuss some mechanisms that may explain dissimilar sensitivities among methanogens to different types of inhibitors. For improving feed efficiency and cost-effectiveness, we discuss the consequences of inhibiting methanogenesis on rumen fermentation, and how changes in rumen fermentation can in turn affect postabsorptive metabolism and animal performance. The objectives of this review are to identify knowledge gaps of the consequences of inhibiting methanogenesis on rumen microbiology and rumen and postabsorptive metabolism, propose research to address those knowledge gaps and discuss the implications that this research can have for the efficacy and adoption of inhibitors of methanogenesis. Depending on its outcomes, research on the microbiological, biochemical, and metabolic consequences of the inhibition of rumen methanogenesis could help the adoption of feed additives inhibitors of methanogenesis to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions from ruminants to ameliorate climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Ungerfeld
- Centro Regional de Investigación Carillanca, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Camino Cajón a Vilcún km 10, 4880000 Vilcún, La Araucanía, Chile.
| | - D Pitta
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, 19348 Kenneth Square, PA, United States
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2
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Kjeldsen MH, Weisbjerg MR, Larsen M, Højberg O, Ohlsson C, Walker N, Hellwing ALF, Lund P. Gas exchange, rumen hydrogen sinks, and nutrient digestibility and metabolism in lactating dairy cows fed 3-nitrooxypropanol and cracked rapeseed. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:2047-2065. [PMID: 37863291 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Fat in the form of cracked rapeseed and 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP, market as Bovaer) were fed alone or in combination to 4 Danish Holstein multicannulated dairy cows, with the objective to investigate effects on gas exchange, dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient digestion, and nutrient metabolism. The study design was a 4 × 4 Latin square with a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement with 2 levels of fat supplementation; 33 g of crude fat per kg of dry matter (DM) or 64 g of crude fat per kg of DM for low and high fat diets, respectively, and 2 levels of 3-NOP; 0 mg/kg DM or 80 mg/kg DM. In total, 4 diets were formulated: low fat (LF), high fat (HF), 3-NOP and low fat (3LF), and 3-NOP and high fat (3HF). Cows were fed ad libitum and milked twice daily. The adaptation period lasted 11 d, followed by 5 d with 12 diurnal sampling times of digesta and ruminal fluid. Thereafter, gas exchange was measured for 5 d in respiration chambers. Chromic oxide and titanium dioxide were used as external flow markers to determine intestinal nutrient flow. No interactions between fat supplementation and 3-NOP were observed for methane yield (g/kg DM), total-tract digestibility of nutrients or total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration in the rumen. Methane yield (g/kg DMI) was decreased by 24% when cows were fed 3-NOP. In addition, 3-NOP increased carbon dioxide and hydrogen yield (g/kg DM) by 6% and 3,500%, respectively. However, carbon dioxide production was decreased when expressed on a daily basis. Fat supplementation did not affect methane yield but tended to reduce methane in percent of gross energy intake. A decrease (11%) in DMI was observed, when cows were fed 3-NOP. Likely, the lower DMI mediated a lower passage rate causing the tendency to higher rumen and total-tract neutral detergent fiber digestibility, when the cows were fed 3-NOP. Total VFA concentrations in the rumen were negatively affected both by 3-NOP and fat supplementation. Furthermore, 3-NOP caused a shift in the VFA fermentation profile, with decreased acetate proportion and increased butyrate proportion, whereas propionate proportion was unaffected. Increased concentrations of the alcohols methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and 2-butanol were observed in the ruminal fluid when cows were fed 3-NOP. These changes in rumen metabolites indicate partial re-direction of hydrogen into other hydrogen sinks, when methanogenesis is inhibited by 3-NOP. In conclusion, fat supplementation did not reduce methane yield, whereas 3-NOP reduced methane yield, irrespective of fat level. However, the concentration of 3-NOP and diet composition and resulting desired mitigation effect must be considered before implementation. The observed reduction in DMI with 80 mg 3-NOP/kg DM was intriguing and may indicate that a lower dose should be applied in a Northern European context; however, the mechanism behind needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria H Kjeldsen
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg-Research Centre Foulum, Aarhus University, 8830 DK-Tjele, Denmark.
| | - Martin R Weisbjerg
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg-Research Centre Foulum, Aarhus University, 8830 DK-Tjele, Denmark
| | - Mogens Larsen
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg-Research Centre Foulum, Aarhus University, 8830 DK-Tjele, Denmark
| | - Ole Højberg
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg-Research Centre Foulum, Aarhus University, 8830 DK-Tjele, Denmark
| | - Christer Ohlsson
- Department of Animal Nutrition, DSM Nutritional Products, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Walker
- Department of Animal Nutrition, DSM Nutritional Products, 4303 Kaiseraugst, Switzerland
| | - Anne Louise F Hellwing
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg-Research Centre Foulum, Aarhus University, 8830 DK-Tjele, Denmark
| | - Peter Lund
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg-Research Centre Foulum, Aarhus University, 8830 DK-Tjele, Denmark
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3
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Li Q, Ma Z, Huo J, Zhang X, Wang R, Zhang S, Jiao J, Dong X, Janssen PH, Ungerfeld EM, Greening C, Tan Z, Wang M. Distinct microbial hydrogen and reductant disposal pathways explain interbreed variations in ruminant methane yield. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrad016. [PMID: 38365243 PMCID: PMC10811737 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrad016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Ruminants are essential for global food security, but these are major sources of the greenhouse gas methane. Methane yield is controlled by the cycling of molecular hydrogen (H2), which is produced during carbohydrate fermentation and is consumed by methanogenic, acetogenic, and respiratory microorganisms. However, we lack a holistic understanding of the mediators and pathways of H2 metabolism and how this varies between ruminants with different methane-emitting phenotypes. Here, we used metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, metabolomics, and biochemical approaches to compare H2 cycling and reductant disposal pathways between low-methane-emitting Holstein and high-methane-emitting Jersey dairy cattle. The Holstein rumen microbiota had a greater capacity for reductant disposal via electron transfer for amino acid synthesis and propionate production, catalyzed by enzymes such as glutamate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase, and expressed uptake [NiFe]-hydrogenases to use H2 to support sulfate and nitrate respiration, leading to enhanced coupling of H2 cycling with less expelled methane. The Jersey rumen microbiome had a greater proportion of reductant disposal via H2 production catalyzed by fermentative hydrogenases encoded by Clostridia, with H2 mainly taken up through methanogenesis via methanogenic [NiFe]-hydrogenases and acetogenesis via [FeFe]-hydrogenases, resulting in enhanced methane and acetate production. Such enhancement of electron incorporation for metabolite synthesis with reduced methanogenesis was further supported by two in vitro measurements of microbiome activities, metabolites, and public global microbiome data of low- and high-methane-emitting beef cattle and sheep. Overall, this study highlights the importance of promoting alternative H2 consumption and reductant disposal pathways for synthesizing host-beneficial metabolites and reducing methane production in ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiushuang Li
- Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhiyuan Ma
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jiabin Huo
- Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
| | - Xiumin Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
| | - Shizhe Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
| | - Jinzhen Jiao
- Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
| | - Xiyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Peter H Janssen
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, Private Bag 11008, New Zealand
| | - Emilio M Ungerfeld
- Centro Regional de Investigación Carillanca, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Temuco, Vilcún 4880000, Chile
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Zhiliang Tan
- Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Min Wang
- Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Cowley FC, Kinley RD, Mackenzie SL, Fortes MRS, Palmieri C, Simanungkalit G, Almeida AK, Roque BM. Bioactive metabolites of Asparagopsis stabilized in canola oil completely suppress methane emissions in beef cattle fed a feedlot diet. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae109. [PMID: 38646666 PMCID: PMC11088279 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Asparagopsis taxiformis (Asparagopsis) has been shown to be highly efficacious at inhibiting the production of methane (CH4) in ruminants. To date, Asparagopsis has been primarily produced as a dietary supplement by freeze-drying to retain the volatile bioactive compound bromoform (CHBr3) in the product. Steeping of Asparagopsis bioactive compounds into a vegetable oil carrier (Asp-Oil) is an alternative method of stabilizing Asparagopsis as a ruminant feed additive. A dose-response experimental design used 3 Asp-Oil-canola oil blends, low, medium, and high Asp-Oil which provided 17, 34, and 51 mg Asparagopsis derived CHBr3/kg dry matter intake (DMI), respectively (in addition to a zero CHBr3 canola oil control), in a tempered-barley based feedlot finisher diet, fed for 59 d to 20 Angus heifers (five replicates per treatment). On four occasions, live weight was measured and CH4 emissions were quantified in respiration chambers, and blood, rumen fluid, and fecal samples were collected. At the end of the experiment, all animals were slaughtered, with carcasses graded, and samples of meat and edible offal collected for testing of consumer sensory qualities and residues of CHBr3, bromide, and iodide. All Asp-Oil treatments reduced CH4 yield (g CH4/kg DMI, P = 0.008) from control levels, with the low, medium, and high Asp-Oil achieving 64%, 98%, and 99% reduction, respectively. Dissolved hydrogen increased linearly with increasing Asp-Oil inclusion, by more than 17-fold in the high Asp-Oil group (P = 0.017). There was no effect of Asp-Oil treatment on rumen temperature, pH, reduction potential, volatile fatty acid and ammonia production, rumen pathology, and histopathology (P > 0.10). There were no differences in animal production and carcass parameters (P > 0.10). There was no detectable CHBr3 in feces or any carcass samples (P > 0.10), and iodide and bromide residues in kidneys were at levels unlikely to lead to consumers exceeding recommended maximum intakes. Overall, Asp-Oil was found to be safe for animals and consumers of meat, and effective at reducing CH4 emissions and yield by up to 99% within the range of inclusion levels tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances C Cowley
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | | | - Sigrid L Mackenzie
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Chiara Palmieri
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Gamaliel Simanungkalit
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - Amelia K Almeida
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
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Choudhury PK, Jena R, Puniya AK, Tomar SK. Isolation and characterization of reductive acetogens from rumen fluid samples of Murrah buffaloes. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:265. [PMID: 37415727 PMCID: PMC10319699 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03688-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, attempts have been made to isolate reductive acetogens from the rumen fluid samples of Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Out of 32 rumen samples 51 isolates were isolated, and based on autotrophic growth for production of acetate and presence of formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase gene (FTHFS) 12 isolates were confirmed as reductive acetogens. Microscopic observations showed that ten isolates as Gram-positive rods (ACB28, ACB29, ACB66, ACB73, ACB81, ACB91, ACB133, ACB229, ACB52, ACB95) and two isolates as Gram-positive cocci (ACB19, ACB89). All isolates tested negative for catalase, oxidase, and gelatin liquefaction, whereas the production of H2S was detected for two (ACB52 and ACB95) of the above isolates. All these isolates showed autotrophic growth from H2 and CO2, and heterotrophic growth with different fermentable sugars, viz., d-glucose, D-fructose, and D-trehalose but failed to grow on salicin, raffinose, and l-rhamnose. Out of the isolates, two showed amylase activity (ACB28 and ACB95), five showed CMCase activity (ACB19, ACB28, ACB29, ACB73 and ACB91), three showed pectinase activity (ACB29, ACB52 and ACB89), whereas none of the isolates was found positive for avicellase and xylanase activity. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates showed their phylogenetic relationship with maximum similarity up to 99% to different strains of earlier reported known acetogens of clostridia group including Clostridium sp. (6), Eubacterium limosum (1), Ruminococcus sp. (1) and Acetobacterium woodii (1) except one, i.e., Vagococcus fluvialis. The results indicate that reductive acetogens isolated from the rumen fluid samples of Murrah buffalos are both autotrophic and heterotrophic in nature and further investigations are required to exploit and explore their potential as an alternate hydrogen sink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanta Kumar Choudhury
- Dairy Microbiology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India
- Department of Dairy Technology, School of Agricultural and Bioengineering, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha 761211 India
| | - Rajashree Jena
- Dairy Microbiology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India
- Department of Dairy Technology, School of Agricultural and Bioengineering, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha 761211 India
| | - Anil Kumar Puniya
- Dairy Microbiology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India
| | - Sudhir Kumar Tomar
- Dairy Microbiology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001 India
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Morgavi DP, Cantalapiedra-Hijar G, Eugène M, Martin C, Noziere P, Popova M, Ortigues-Marty I, Muñoz-Tamayo R, Ungerfeld EM. Review: Reducing enteric methane emissions improves energy metabolism in livestock: is the tenet right? Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 3:100830. [PMID: 37263815 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The production of enteric methane in the gastrointestinal tract of livestock is considered as an energy loss in the equations for estimating energy metabolism in feeding systems. Therefore, the spared energy resulting from specific inhibition of methane emissions should be re-equilibrated with other factors of the equation. And, it is commonly assumed that net energy from feeds increases, thus benefitting production functions, particularly in ruminants due to the important production of methane in the rumen. Notwithstanding, we confirm in this work that inhibition of emissions in ruminants does not transpose into consistent improvements in production. Theoretical calculations of energy flows using experimental data show that the expected improvement in net energy for production is small and difficult to detect under the prevailing, moderate inhibition of methane production (≈25%) obtained using feed additives inhibiting methanogenesis. Importantly, the calculation of energy partitioning using canonical models might not be adequate when methanogenesis is inhibited. There is a lack of information on various parameters that play a role in energy partitioning and that may be affected under provoked abatement of methane. The formula used to calculate heat production based on respiratory exchanges should be validated when methanogenesis is inhibited. Also, a better understanding is needed of the effects of inhibition on fermentation products, fermentation heat, and microbial biomass. Inhibition induces the accumulation of H2, the main substrate used to produce methane, that has no energetic value for the host, and it is not extensively used by the majority of rumen microbes. Currently, the fate of this excess of H2 and its consequences on the microbiota and the host are not well known. All this additional information will provide a better account of energy transactions in ruminants when enteric methanogenesis is inhibited. Based on the available information, it is concluded that the claim that enteric methane inhibition will translate into more feed-efficient animals is not warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- D P Morgavi
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle, France.
| | - G Cantalapiedra-Hijar
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle, France
| | - M Eugène
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle, France
| | - C Martin
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle, France
| | - P Noziere
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle, France
| | - M Popova
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle, France
| | - I Ortigues-Marty
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle, France
| | - R Muñoz-Tamayo
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR Modélisation Systémique Appliquée aux Ruminants, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - E M Ungerfeld
- Centro Regional de Investigación Carillanca, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Temuco 4880000, Chile
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Canul-Ku LA, Sanginés-García JR, Urquizo EA, Canul-Solís JR, Valdivieso-Pérez IA, Vargas-Bello-Pérez E, Molina-Botero I, Arango J, Piñeiro-Vázquez ÁT. Effect of Pelagic Sargassum on In Vitro Dry Matter and Organic Matter Degradation, Gas Production, and Protozoa Population. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1858. [PMID: 37889796 PMCID: PMC10252004 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study determined the effect of pelagic Sargassum on in vitro dry matter and organic matter degradation, total gas production (TGP), and protozoa population. The treatments were different levels of Sargassum inclusion on a basal substrate (Stargrass hay; Cynodon nlemfuensis) as follows: T0 (control treatment based on Stargrass hay), T10 (90% Stargrass hay + 10% Sargassum), T20 (80% Stargrass hay + 20% Sargassum), and T30 (70% Stargrass hay + 30% Sargassum). Ruminal fermentation kinetics and protozoa population were determined during 72 h of in vitro incubations. Compared to control, dry matter degradability at 48 and 72 h and organic matter degradability at 24 and 48 h were higher in Sargassum treatments. TGP was lower with T20 at 48 h. The total population of protozoa and the concentration of Entodinium spp. were lower at T20 at 48 h and T30 at 72 h. Cl, S, Ca, K, and Zn (103, 5.97, 88.73, 285.70 g/kg, and 15,900 mg/kg) were high in Sargassum, reaching twice or even nine times higher than the contents in Stargrass (11.37, 1.60, 43.53, 87.73 g/kg, and 866.67 mg/kg). Overall, up to 30% pelagic Sargassum could be included in hay-based substrates from tropical grasses without negative effects on in vitro dry matter and organic matter degradability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Alberto Canul-Ku
- Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Conkal, Conkal 97345, Mexico
| | | | - Edgar Aguilar Urquizo
- Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Conkal, Conkal 97345, Mexico
| | | | | | - Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez
- Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, P.O. Box 237, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6EU, UK
- Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Periférico R. Aldama Km 1, Chihuahua 31031, Mexico
| | - Isabel Molina-Botero
- The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Km 17 Recta Cali-Palmira, Cali A.A. 6713, Colombia (J.A.)
| | - Jacobo Arango
- The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Km 17 Recta Cali-Palmira, Cali A.A. 6713, Colombia (J.A.)
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8
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Khurana R, Brand T, Tapio I, Bayat AR. Effect of a garlic and citrus extract supplement on performance, rumen fermentation, methane production, and rumen microbiome of dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2023:S0022-0302(23)00273-4. [PMID: 37225588 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of a garlic and citrus extract supplement (GCE) on the performance, rumen fermentation, methane emissions, and rumen microbiome of dairy cows. Fourteen multiparous Nordic Red cows in mid-lactation from the research herd of Luke (Jokioinen, Finland) were allocated to 7 blocks in a complete randomized block design based on body weight, days in milk, dry matter intake (DMI), and milk yield. Animals within each block were randomly allocated to a diet with or without GCE. The experimental period for each block of cows (one for each of the control and GCE groups) consisted of 14 d of adaptation followed by 4 d of methane measurements inside the open circuit respiration chambers, with the first day being considered as acclimatization. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). Methane production (g/d) and methane intensity (g/kg of energy-corrected milk) were lower by 10.3 and 11.7%, respectively, and methane yield (g/kg of DMI) tended to be lower by 9.7% in cows fed GCE compared with the control. Dry matter intake, milk production, and milk composition were similar between treatments. Rumen pH and total volatile fatty acid concentrations in rumen fluid were similar, whereas GCE tended to increase molar propionate concentration and decrease the molar ratio of acetate to propionate. Supplementation with GCE resulted in greater abundance of Succinivibrionaceae, which was associated with reduced methane. The relative abundance of the strict anaerobic Methanobrevibacter genus was reduced by GCE. The change in microbial community and rumen propionate proportion may explain the decrease in enteric methane emissions. In conclusion, feeding GCE to dairy cows for 18 d modified rumen fermentation and microbiota, leading to reduced methane production and intensity without compromising DMI or milk production in dairy cows. This could be an effective strategy for enteric methane mitigation of dairy cows.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ilma Tapio
- Production Systems, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokioinen 31600, Finland
| | - Ali-Reza Bayat
- Production Systems, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokioinen 31600, Finland
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9
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Entrena-Barbero E, Rebolledo-Leiva R, Vásquez-Ibarra L, Fernández M, Feijoo G, González-García S, Moreira MT. Water-Energy-Food nexus index proposal as a sustainability criterion on dairy farms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 874:162507. [PMID: 36871744 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cow milk is a fundamental nutrients source for the human diet at all stages of life. However, the decline in cow milk consumption over the years has been driven by increased consumer awareness of animal welfare and the environmental burdens associated. In this regard, different initiatives have emerged to mitigate the impacts of livestock farming, but many of them without addressing the multi-perspective view of environmental sustainability. Thus, the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus emerges as a framework to consider the complex synergies among carbon emissions, water demand, energy requirements and food production. In this study, a novel and harmonised WEF nexus approach has been proposed and applied to evaluate a set of 100 dairy farms. For that, the assessment, normalisation, and weighting of three lifecycle indicators such as carbon, water and energy footprints, as well as the milk yield were carried out to obtain a single value, the WEF nexus index (WEFni), which varies from 0 to 100. Results show that the WEF nexus scores obtained vary from 31 to 90, demonstrating large differences among the farms assessed. A cluster ranking was performed to identify those farms with the worst WEF nexus indexes. For this group, consisting of 8 farms with an average WEFni of 39, three improvement actions focused on the feeding, digestive process and wellbeing of the cows were applied to determine the potential reduction in the two main hotspots identified: cow feeding and milk production level. The proposed methodology can establish a roadmap for promoting a more environmentally sustainable food industry, although further studies are still required in the pathway of a standardised WEFni.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Entrena-Barbero
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Ricardo Rebolledo-Leiva
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Leonardo Vásquez-Ibarra
- Doctoral Program in Engineering Systems, Faculty of Engineering, Campus Curicó, Universidad de Talca, Camino a Los Niches, km 1, Curicó, Chile.
| | - Mario Fernández
- Galician Association of Agri-food Cooperatives, 15703 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Gumersindo Feijoo
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Sara González-García
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - María Teresa Moreira
- CRETUS, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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10
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Firkins JL, Mitchell KE. Invited review: Rumen modifiers in today's dairy rations. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:3053-3071. [PMID: 36935236 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Our aim was to review feed additives that have a potential ruminal mechanism of action when fed to dairy cattle. We discuss how additives can influence ruminal fermentation stoichiometry through electron transfer mechanisms, particularly the production and usage of dihydrogen. Lactate accumulation should be avoided, especially when acidogenic conditions suppress ruminal neutral detergent fiber digestibility or lead to subclinical acidosis. Yeast products and other probiotics are purported to influence lactate uptake, but growing evidence also supports that yeast products influence expression of gut epithelial genes promoting barrier function and resulting inflammatory responses by the host to various stresses. We also have summarized methane-suppressing additives for potential usage in dairy rations. We focused on those with potential to decrease methane production without decreasing fiber digestibility or milk production. We identified some mitigating factors that need to be addressed more fully in future research. Growth factors such as branched-chain volatile fatty acids also are part of crucial cross-feeding among groups of microbes, particularly to optimize fiber digestibility in the rumen. Our developments of mechanisms of action for various rumen-active modifiers should help nutrition advisors anticipate when a benefit in field conditions is more likely.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Firkins
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
| | - K E Mitchell
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
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11
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Romero P, Huang R, Jiménez E, Palma-Hidalgo JM, Ungerfeld EM, Popova M, Morgavi DP, Belanche A, Yáñez-Ruiz DR. Evaluating the effect of phenolic compounds as hydrogen acceptors when ruminal methanogenesis is inhibited in vitro – Part 2. Dairy goats. Animal 2023; 17:100789. [PMID: 37087998 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Most mitigation strategies to reduce enteric methane (CH4) production in the rumen induce an excess of rumen dihydrogen (H2) that is expelled and consequently not redirected to the synthesis of metabolites that can be utilised by the ruminant. We hypothesised that phenolic compounds can be potential H2 acceptors when added to the diet, as they can be degraded to compounds that may be beneficial for the animal, using part of the H2 available when ruminal methanogenesis is inhibited. We performed four in vitro incubation experiments using rumen inoculum from Murciano-Granadina adult goats: Experiment 1 examined the inhibitory potential of Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT) at different concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% of the substrate on a DM basis) in 24 h incubations; Experiment 2 investigated the effect of a wide range of phenolic compounds (phenol, catechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, pyrogallol, phloroglucinol, gallic acid and formic acid) at different doses (0, 2, 4, and 6 mM) on rumen fermentation for 24 h; Experiment 3 evaluated the combined effect of each phenolic compound at 6 mM with AT at 2% DM in sequential batch cultures for 5 days; and Experiment 4 examined the dose-response effect of phloroglucinol at different concentrations (0, 6, 16, 26 and 36 mM) combined with AT in sequential batch cultures for 5 days. Results from Experiment 1 confirmed that AT at 2% DM substantially inhibited CH4 production while significantly increasing H2 accumulation and decreasing the acetate:propionate ratio. Results from Experiment 2 showed that phenolic compounds did not negatively affect rumen fermentation at any dose. In Experiment 3, each phenolic compound at 6 mM combined with AT at 2% DM inhibited CH4 production. Phloroglucinol numerically decreased H2 accumulation and significantly increased total gas production (TGP), volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and the acetate:propionate ratio. In Experiment 4, phloroglucinol at increasing doses supplemented with AT at 2% DM significantly decreased H2 accumulation and the abundances of archaea, protozoa and fungi abundances, and increased TGP, total VFA production and the acetate:propionate ratio in a dose-dependent way. In conclusion, combined treatment with AT and phloroglucinol was successful to mitigate CH4 production while preventing the accumulation of H2, leading to an increase in acetate and total VFA production and therefore an improvement in rumen fermentation in goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Romero
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda, 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - R Huang
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
| | - E Jiménez
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda, 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - J M Palma-Hidalgo
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda, 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - E M Ungerfeld
- Centro Regional de Investigación Carillanca, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Temuco 4880000, Chile
| | - M Popova
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
| | - D P Morgavi
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
| | - A Belanche
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda, 1, 18008 Granada, Spain; Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Universidad de Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - D R Yáñez-Ruiz
- Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda, 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
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12
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Huang R, Romero P, Belanche A, Ungerfeld E, Yanez-Ruiz D, Morgavi D, Popova M. Evaluating the effect of phenolic compounds as hydrogen acceptors when ruminal methanogenesis is inhibited in vitro – Part 1. Dairy cows. Animal 2023; 17:100788. [PMID: 37087996 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Some antimethanogenic feed additives for ruminants promote rumen dihydrogen (H2) accumulation potentially affecting the optimal fermentation of diets. We hypothesised that combining an H2 acceptor with a methanogenesis inhibitor can decrease rumen H2 build-up and improve the production of metabolites that can be useful for the host ruminant. We performed three in vitro incubation experiments using rumen fluid from lactating Holstein cows: Experiment 1 examined the effect of phenolic compounds (phenol, catechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, pyrogallol, phloroglucinol, and gallic acid) at 0, 2, 4, and 6 mM on ruminal fermentation for 24 h; Experiment 2 examined the combined effect of each phenolic compound from Experiment 1 at 6 mM with two different methanogenesis inhibitors (Asparagopsis taxiformis or 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES)) for 24 h incubation; Experiment 3 examined the effect of a selected phenolic compound, phloroglucinol, with or without BES over a longer term using sequential incubations for seven days. Results from Experiment 1 showed that phenolic compounds, independently of the dose, did not negatively affect rumen fermentation, whereas results from Experiment 2 showed that phenolic compounds did not decrease H2 accumulation or modify CH4 production when methanogenesis was decreased by up to 75% by inhibitors. In Experiment 3, after three sequential incubations, phloroglucinol combined with BES decreased H2 accumulation by 72% and further inhibited CH4 production, compared to BES alone. Interestingly, supplementation with phloroglucinol (alone or in combination with the CH4 inhibitor) decreased CH4 production by 99% and the abundance of methanogenic archaea, with just a nominal increase in H2 accumulation. Supplementation of phloroglucinol also increased total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetate, butyrate, and total gas production, and decreased ammonia concentration. This study indicates that some phenolic compounds, particularly phloroglucinol, which are naturally found in plants, could improve VFA production, decrease H2 accumulation and synergistically decrease CH4 production in the presence of antimethanogenic compounds.
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Santos Torres RDN, Coelho LM, Ghedini CP, Neto ORM, Chardulo LAL, Torrecilhas JA, de Lima Valença R, Baldassini WA, Almeida MTC. Potential of Nutritional Strategies to Reduce Enteric Methane Emission in Feedlot Sheep: A Meta-analysis and Multivariate Analysis. Small Rumin Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2023.106919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Choi Y, Lee SJ, Kim HS, Eom JS, Jo SU, Guan LL, Park T, Seo J, Lee Y, Bae D, Lee SS. Red seaweed extracts reduce methane production by altering rumen fermentation and microbial composition in vitro. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:985824. [DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.985824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of in vitro batch culture incubations were carried out to investigate changes in rumen fermentation characteristics, methane (CH4) production, and microbial composition in response to supplementation with five different red seaweed species (Amphiroa anceps, AANC; Asparagopsis taxiformis, ATAX; Chondracanthus tenellus, CTEN; Grateloupia elliptica, GELL; and Gracilaria parvispora, GPAR). Prior to the incubations, the total flavonoid and polyphenol content of the red seaweed extracts was quantified. The incubated substrate consisted of timothy hay and corn grain [60:40 dry matter (DM) basis]. Treatments were substrate mixtures without seaweed extract (CON) or substrate mixtures supplemented with 0.25 mg/mL of red seaweed extract. Samples were incubated for 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. Each sample was incubated in triplicates in three separate runs. In vitro DM degradability, fermentation parameters (i.e., pH, volatile fatty acids, and ammonia nitrogen), total gas production, and CH4 production were analyzed for all time points. Microbial composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing after 24 h of incubation. The highest CH4 reduction (mL/g DM, mL/g digested DM, and % of total gas production) was observed in ATAX (51.3, 50.1, and 51.5%, respectively, compared to CON; P < 0.001) after 12 h of incubation. The other red seaweed extracts reduced the CH4 production (mL/g DM; P < 0.001) in the range of 4.6–35.0% compared to CON after 24 h of incubation. After 24 h of incubation, supplementation with red seaweed extracts tended to increase the molar proportion of propionate (P = 0.057) and decreased the acetate to propionate ratio (P = 0.033) compared to the CON. Abundances of the genus Methanobrevibacter and total methanogens were reduced (P = 0.050 and P = 0.016) by red seaweed extract supplementation. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (P < 0.05, LDA ≥ 2.0) showed that UG Succinivibrionaceae, Anaeroplasma, and UG Ruminococcaceae, which are associated with higher propionate production, starch degradation, and amylase activity were relatively more abundant in red seaweed extracts than in the CON. Our results suggest that supplementation with red seaweed extracts altered the microbiota, leading to the acceleration of propionate production and reduction in CH4 production.
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Liu Z, Wang K, Nan X, Yang L, Wang Y, Zhang F, Cai M, Zhao Y, Xiong B. Effects of combined addition of 3-nitrooxypropanol and vitamin B12 on methane and propionate production in dairy cows by in vitro-simulated fermentation. J Dairy Sci 2022; 106:219-232. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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16
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Glasson CR, Kinley RD, de Nys R, King N, Adams SL, Packer MA, Svenson J, Eason CT, Magnusson M. Benefits and risks of including the bromoform containing seaweed Asparagopsis in feed for the reduction of methane production from ruminants. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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17
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Synergistic effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol with fumarate in the regulation of propionate formation and methanogenesis in dairy cows in vitro. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0190821. [PMID: 35080908 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01908-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) is effective in reducing ruminal methane emission in ruminants. But it also causes a drastic increase in hydrogen accumulation, resulting in a feed energy waste. Fumarate is a key precursor for propionate formation and plays an important role in rumen hydrogen metabolism. Therefore, this study examined the effects of 3-NOP combined with fumarate on volatile fatty acids, methanogenesis and microbial community structures in dairy cows in vitro . The in vitro culture experiment was performed using a 2 × 2 factorial design: two 3-NOP levels (0 or 2 mg/g DM) and two fumarate levels (0 or 100 mg/g DM), including 3 runs × 4 treatments × 4 replicates and 4 blanks only containing inoculum. Rumen fluid was collected from three lactating Holstein cows with permanent ruminal fistulas. The combination of 3-NOP and fumarate reduced methane emission by 11.48% without affecting dry matter degradebility. Propionate concentration increased and acetate/propionate ratio decreased significantly. In terms of bacteria, the combination of 3-NOP and fumarate reduced the abundance of Ruminococcus and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group and increased the abundance of Prevotella and Succiniclasticum. For archaea, the combination of 3-NOP and fumarate significantly increased the abundance of Methanobrevibacter_sp._AbM4, while the abundance of OTU581 (belongs to strain uncultured_rumen_methanogen_g__Methanobrevibacter) was significantly decreased. These results indecated that the combination of 3-NOP with fumarate could alleviate the accumulation of hydrogen and enhance the inhibition of methanogenesis compared with 3-NOP only in dairy cows. IMPORTANCE The global problem of climate change and the greenhouse effect has become increasingly severe, and the abatement of greenhouse gases has received great attention from the international community. Methane produced by ruminants during digestion not only aggravates the greenhouse effect, but also causes a waste of feed energy. As a methane inhibitor, 3-nitrooxypropanol can effectively reduce methane emission from ruminants. However, when it inhibits methane emission, the emission of hydrogen increases sharply, resulting in the waste of feed resources. Fumarate is a propionic acid precursor, which can promote the metabolism of hydrogen to propionic acid in animals. Therefore, we studied the effects of the combined addition of 3-nitrooxypropanol and fumarate on methanogenesis, rumen fermentation and rumen flora. It is of great significance to inhibit methane emission from ruminants and slow down the greenhouse effect.
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Ungerfeld EM, Beauchemin KA, Muñoz C. Current Perspectives on Achieving Pronounced Enteric Methane Mitigation From Ruminant Production. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2021.795200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2050 requires achieving net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and a strong decrease in methane (CH4) emissions. Our aim was to connect the global need for mitigation of the emissions of greenhouse gases and enteric CH4 from ruminant production to basic research on the biological consequences of inhibiting rumen methanogenesis in order to better design strategies for pronounced mitigation of enteric CH4 production without negative impacts on animal productivity or economic returns. Ruminant production worldwide has the challenge of decreasing its emissions of greenhouse gases while increasing the production of meat and milk to meet consumers demand. Production intensification decreases the emissions of greenhouse gases per unit of product, and in some instances has decreased total emissions, but in other instances has resulted in increased total emissions of greenhouse gases. We propose that decreasing total emission of greenhouse gases from ruminants in the next decades while simultaneously increasing meat and milk production will require strong inhibition of rumen methanogenesis. An aggressive approach to pronounced inhibition of enteric CH4 emissions is technically possible through the use of chemical compounds and/or bromoform-containing algae, but aspects such as safety, availability, government approval, consumer acceptance, and impacts on productivity and economic returns must be satisfactorily addressed. Feeding these additives will increase the cost of ruminant diets, which can discourage their adoption. On the other hand, inhibiting rumen methanogenesis potentially saves energy for the host animal and causes profound changes in rumen fermentation and post-absorptive metabolism. Understanding the biological consequences of methanogenesis inhibition could allow designing strategies to optimize the intervention. We conducted meta-regressions using published studies with at least one treatment with >50% inhibition of CH4 production to elucidate the responses of key rumen metabolites and animal variables to methanogenesis inhibition, and understand possible consequences on post-absorptive metabolism. We propose possible avenues, attainable through the understanding of biological consequences of the methanogenesis inhibition intervention, to increase animal productivity or decrease feed costs when inhibiting methanogenesis.
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Yu G, Beauchemin KA, Dong R. A Review of 3-Nitrooxypropanol for Enteric Methane Mitigation from Ruminant Livestock. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3540. [PMID: 34944313 PMCID: PMC8697901 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane (CH4) from enteric fermentation accounts for 3 to 5% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. Cost-effective strategies are needed to reduce feed energy losses as enteric CH4 while improving ruminant production efficiency. Mitigation strategies need to be environmentally friendly, easily adopted by producers and accepted by consumers. However, few sustainable CH4 mitigation approaches are available. Recent studies show that the chemically synthesized CH4 inhibitor 3-nitrooxypropanol is one of the most effective approaches for enteric CH4 abatement. 3-nitrooxypropanol specifically targets the methyl-coenzyme M reductase and inhibits the final catalytic step in methanogenesis in rumen archaea. Providing 3-nitrooxypropanol to dairy and beef cattle in research studies has consistently decreased enteric CH4 production by 30% on average, with reductions as high as 82% in some cases. Efficacy is positively related to 3-NOP dose and negatively affected by neutral detergent fiber concentration of the diet, with greater responses in dairy compared with beef cattle when compared at the same dose. This review collates the current literature on 3-nitrooxypropanol and examines the overall findings of meta-analyses and individual studies to provide a synthesis of science-based information on the use of 3-nitrooxypropanol for CH4 abatement. The intent is to help guide commercial adoption at the farm level in the future. There is a significant body of peer-reviewed scientific literature to indicate that 3-nitrooxypropanol is effective and safe when incorporated into total mixed rations, but further research is required to fully understand the long-term effects and the interactions with other CH4 mitigating compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghui Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changcheng Road, Chengyang District, Qingdao 266109, China;
| | - Karen A. Beauchemin
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada;
| | - Ruilan Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changcheng Road, Chengyang District, Qingdao 266109, China;
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da Silva YA, de Almeida VVS, Oliveira AC, Fonseca RS, Dos Santos P, do Sacramento Ribeiro J, Dos Santos Silva MJM, de Lima Júnior DM. Can roughage: concentrate ratio affect the action of red propolis extract on sheep metabolism? Trop Anim Health Prod 2021; 53:472. [PMID: 34550484 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02907-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the addition of red propolis extract (RPE), in different roughage: concentrate (R:C) ratios, influences the intake, digestibility, ruminal parameters, and serum biochemistry of sheep. We used eight Santa Inês sheep with an average body weight of 29.45 ± 1.58 kg, housed in metabolism cages for 60 days, and distributed in two simultaneous Latin square designs in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme. The factors consisted of two R:C ratios (70:30 and 30:70) with or without the addition of 15 mL/day of RPE. No interactions were found (P > 0.05) between R:C ratios and with or without RPE. Sheep fed 30:70 ratio showed higher (P < 0.05) intake and dry matter (DM) digestibility and non-fibrous carbohydrates and lower (P < 0.05) intake and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. The addition of RPE did not influence (P > 0.05) the intake or nutrients digestibility, but the sheep that received RPE had a higher (P < 0.05) ruminal pH and longer (P < 0.05) time of rumination (min/kg DM) compared to the group without propolis. The ruminal ammonia concentration was higher for sheep fed 70:30 ratio, but the concentrations of total protein and albumin did not differ between R:C ratios. The addition of 15 mL of RPE does not influence the intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, and rumen ammonical nitrogen of sheep. There is no association between the R:C ratio and the addition of 15 mL/day of RPE for sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara America da Silva
- Universidade Federal Do Agreste de Pernambuco, Bom Pastor Street, Boa Vista, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, 55292-270, Brazil
| | - Vitor Visintin Silva de Almeida
- Campus Arapiraca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Manoel Severino Barbosa Street, Bom Sucesso, Arapiraca, Alagoas, 57309-005, Brazil
| | - Aline Cardoso Oliveira
- Campus Arapiraca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Manoel Severino Barbosa Street, Bom Sucesso, Arapiraca, Alagoas, 57309-005, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Souza Fonseca
- Campus Arapiraca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Manoel Severino Barbosa Street, Bom Sucesso, Arapiraca, Alagoas, 57309-005, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Dos Santos
- Campus Arapiraca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Manoel Severino Barbosa Street, Bom Sucesso, Arapiraca, Alagoas, 57309-005, Brazil
| | - Julimar do Sacramento Ribeiro
- Campus Arapiraca, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Manoel Severino Barbosa Street, Bom Sucesso, Arapiraca, Alagoas, 57309-005, Brazil
| | | | - Dorgival Morais de Lima Júnior
- Universidade Federal Rural Do Semi-Árido, Francisco Mota Street, Costa e Silva, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, 59625-900, Brazil.
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Microbial Dynamics and In Vitro Degradation of Plant Secondary Metabolites in Hanwoo Steer Rumen Fluids. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082350. [PMID: 34438807 PMCID: PMC8388715 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolite (PSM) degradations and feed breakdown into small particles may occur primarily in the rumen. It is possible to predict the rate and extent of feed disappearance in the rumen during incubation by different in vitro techniques, which differ based on the PSM structures, including phenolics, and flavonoids. However, PSM degradation and conversion efficiency in the rumen remains unclear. This study's objective was to evaluate the in vitro degradation of a group of PSMs in the rumen fluid, collected from Hanwoo steer samples. PSMs including rutin, vitexin, myricetin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, luteolin, propyl gallate, and kaempferol were used in their pure forms at 1mg/250 mL in a rumen fluid buffer system. The mixture of selected PSMs and buffer was incubated at 39 °C for 12-72 h, and samples were collected every 12 h and analyzed by a high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) to determine the biotransformation of the polyphenolics. The results revealed that the luteolin, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, rutin, myricetin, vitexin, kaempferol, and quercetin were decreased after 12 h of incubation in the rumen fluid (p ≤ 0.05) and were more than 70% decreased at 72 h. In contrast, the propyl gallate concentrations were not significantly changed after 24 h of incubation in rumen fluid compared to other metabolites. Finally, microbial dynamics study showed that the Firmicutes, Bacterodetes, Actinobacteria, and Syngergistetes were the dominant phyla found in rumen fluids. The data suggest that most polyphenolic compounds may degrade or reform new complex structures in the rumen.
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Roman-Garcia Y, Mitchell KE, Denton BL, Lee C, Socha MT, Wenner BA, Firkins JL. Conditions stimulating neutral detergent fiber degradation by dosing branched-chain volatile fatty acids. II: Relation with solid passage rate and pH on neutral detergent fiber degradation and microbial function in continuous culture. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:9853-9867. [PMID: 34147227 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
To support improving genetic potential for increased milk production, intake of digestible carbohydrate must also increase to provide digestible energy and microbial protein synthesis. We hypothesized that the provision of exogenous branched-chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFA) would improve both neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. However, BCVFA should be more beneficial with increasing efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis associated with increasing passage rate (kp). We also hypothesized that decreasing pH would increase the need for isobutyrate over 2-methylbutyrate. To study these effects independent from other sources of variation in vivo, we evaluated continuous cultures without (control) versus with BCVFA (0 vs. 2 mmol/d each of isobutyrate, isovalerate, and 2-methylbutyrate), low versus high kp of the particulate phase (2.5 vs. 5.0%/h), and high versus low pH (ranging from 6.3 to 6.8 diurnally vs. 5.7 to 6.2) in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Diets were 50% forage pellets and 50% grain pellets administered twice daily. Without an interaction, NDF degradability tended to increase from 29.7 to 35.0% for main effects of control compared with BCVFA treatments. Provision of BCVFA increased methanogenesis, presumably resulting from improved NDF degradability. Decreasing pH decreased methane production. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) and acetate production were decreased with increasing kp, even though true organic matter degradability and bacterial nitrogen flow were not affected by treatments. Decreasing pH decreased acetate but increased propionate and valerate production, probably resulting from a shift in bacterial taxa and associated VFA stoichiometry. Decreasing pH decreased isobutyrate and isovalerate production while increasing 2-methylbutyrate production on a net basis (subtracting doses). Supplementing BCVFA improved NDF degradability in continuous cultures administered moderate (15.4%) crude protein diets (excluding urea in buffer) without major interactions with culture pH and kp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Roman-Garcia
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - K E Mitchell
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - B L Denton
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - C Lee
- Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691
| | - M T Socha
- Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
| | - B A Wenner
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - J L Firkins
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
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23
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Pineda PS, Flores EB, Herrera JRV, Low WY. Opportunities and Challenges for Improving the Productivity of Swamp Buffaloes in Southeastern Asia. Front Genet 2021; 12:629861. [PMID: 33828581 PMCID: PMC8021093 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.629861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The swamp buffalo is a domesticated animal commonly found in Southeast Asia. It is a highly valued agricultural animal for smallholders, but the production of this species has unfortunately declined in recent decades due to rising farm mechanization. While swamp buffalo still plays a role in farmland cultivation, this species' purposes has shifted from draft power to meat, milk, and hide production. The current status of swamp buffaloes in Southeast Asia is still understudied compared to its counterparts such as the riverine buffaloes and cattle. This review discusses the background of swamp buffalo, with an emphasis on recent work on this species in Southeast Asia, and associated genetics and genomics work such as cytogenetic studies, phylogeny, domestication and migration, genetic sequences and resources. Recent challenges to realize the potential of this species in the agriculture industry are also discussed. Limited genetic resource for swamp buffalo has called for more genomics work to be done on this species including decoding its genome. As the economy progresses and farm mechanization increases, research and development for swamp buffaloes are focused on enhancing its productivity through understanding the genetics of agriculturally important traits. The use of genomic markers is a powerful tool to efficiently utilize the potential of this animal for food security and animal conservation. Understanding its genetics and retaining and maximizing its adaptability to harsher environments are a strategic move for food security in poorer nations in Southeast Asia in the face of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulene S. Pineda
- Philippine Carabao Center National Headquarters and Genepool, Science City of Muñoz, Philippines
| | - Ester B. Flores
- Philippine Carabao Center National Headquarters and Genepool, Science City of Muñoz, Philippines
| | | | - Wai Yee Low
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Increasing the Production of Volatile Fatty Acids from Corn Stover Using Bioaugmentation of a Mixed Rumen Culture with Homoacetogenic Bacteria. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020337. [PMID: 33567655 PMCID: PMC7914532 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Volatile fatty acids (VFA) are industrially versatile chemicals and have a major market. Although currently produced from petrochemicals, chemical industries are moving towards more bio-based VFA produced from abundant, cheap and renewable sources such as lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, we examined the effect of bioaugmentation with homoacetogenic bacteria for increasing VFA production in lignocellulose fermentation process. The central hypothesis of this study was that inhibition of methanogenesis in an in vitro rumen bioreactor fed with lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate increases the hydrogen partial pressure, which can be redirected towards increased VFA production, particularly acetic acid, through targeted bioaugmentation with known homoacetogenic bacteria. In this study, methanogenesis during ruminal fermentation of wet exploded corn stover was initially inhibited with 10 mM of 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES), followed by bioaugmentation with either Acetitomaculum ruminis and Acetobacterium woodii in two separate bioreactors. During the inhibition phase, we found that addition of BES decreased the acetic acid yield by 24%, while increasing headspace hydrogen from 1% to 60%. After bioaugmentation, the headspace hydrogen was consumed in both bioreactors and the concentration of acetic acids increased 45% when A. ruminis was added and 70% with A. woodii added. This paper demonstrates that mixed microbial fermentation can be manipulated to increase VFA production through bioaugmentation.
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25
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Inhibition of enteric methanogenesis in dairy cows induces changes in plasma metabolome highlighting metabolic shifts and potential markers of emission. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15591. [PMID: 32973203 PMCID: PMC7515923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72145-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is scarce information on whether inhibition of rumen methanogenesis induces metabolic changes on the host ruminant. Understanding these possible changes is important for the acceptance of methane-reducing practices by producers. In this study we explored the changes in plasma profiles associated with the reduction of methane emissions. Plasma samples were collected from lactating primiparous Holstein cows fed the same diet with (Treated, n = 12) or without (Control, n = 13) an anti-methanogenic feed additive for six weeks. Daily methane emissions (CH4, g/d) were reduced by 23% in the Treated group with no changes in milk production, feed intake, body weight, and biochemical indicators of health status. Plasma metabolome analyses were performed using untargeted [nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS)] and targeted (LC–MS/MS) approaches. We identified 48 discriminant metabolites. Some metabolites mainly of microbial origin such as dimethylsulfone, formic acid and metabolites containing methylated groups like stachydrine, can be related to rumen methanogenesis and can potentially be used as markers. The other discriminant metabolites are produced by the host or have a mixed microbial-host origin. These metabolites, which increased in treated cows, belong to general pathways of amino acids and energy metabolism suggesting a systemic non-negative effect on the animal.
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26
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Min BR, Solaiman S, Waldrip HM, Parker D, Todd RW, Brauer D. Dietary mitigation of enteric methane emissions from ruminants: A review of plant tannin mitigation options. ANIMAL NUTRITION (ZHONGGUO XU MU SHOU YI XUE HUI) 2020; 6:231-246. [PMID: 33005757 PMCID: PMC7503797 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Methane gas from livestock production activities is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which have been shown to influence climate change. New technologies offer a potential to manipulate the rumen biome through genetic selection reducing CH4 production. Methane production may also be mitigated to varying degrees by various dietary intervention strategies. Strategies to reduce GHG emissions need to be developed which increase ruminant production efficiency whereas reducing production of CH4 from cattle, sheep, and goats. Methane emissions may be efficiently mitigated by manipulation of natural ruminal microbiota with various dietary interventions and animal production efficiency improved. Although some CH4 abatement strategies have shown efficacy in vivo, more research is required to make any of these approaches pertinent to modern animal production systems. The objective of this review is to explain how anti-methanogenic compounds (e.g., plant tannins) affect ruminal microbiota, reduce CH4 emission, and the effects on host responses. Thus, this review provides information relevant to understanding the impact of tannins on methanogenesis, which may provide a cost-effective means to reduce enteric CH4 production and the influence of ruminant animals on global GHG emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeng R. Min
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Bushland, TX, 79012, USA
| | | | - Heidi M. Waldrip
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Bushland, TX, 79012, USA
| | - David Parker
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Bushland, TX, 79012, USA
| | - Richard W. Todd
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Bushland, TX, 79012, USA
| | - David Brauer
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Bushland, TX, 79012, USA
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Wenner BA, Wagner BK, St-Pierre NR, Yu ZT, Firkins JL. Inhibition of methanogenesis by nitrate, with or without defaunation, in continuous culture. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:7124-7140. [PMID: 32600762 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Within the rumen, nitrate can serve as an alternative sink for aqueous hydrogen [H2(aq)] accumulating during fermentation, producing nitrite, which ideally is further reduced to ammonium but can accumulate under conditions not yet explained. Defaunation has also been associated with decreased methanogenesis in meta-analyses because protozoa contribute significantly to H2 production. In the present study, we applied a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to dual-flow continuous culture fermentors (n = 4). Treatments were control without nitrate (-NO3-) versus with nitrate (+NO3-; 1.5% of diet dry matter), factorialized with normal protozoa (faunated, FAUN) versus defaunation (DEF) by decreasing the temperature moderately and changing filters over the first 4 d of incubation. We detected no main effects of DEF or interaction of faunation status with +NO3-. The main effect of +NO3- increased H2(aq) by 11.0 µM (+117%) compared with -NO3-. The main effect of +NO3- also decreased daily CH4 production by 8.17 mmol CH4/d (31%) compared with -NO3-. Because there were no treatment effects on neutral detergent fiber digestibility, the main effect of +NO3- also decreased CH4 production by 1.43 mmol of CH4/g of neutral detergent fiber degraded compared with -NO3-. There were no effects of treatment on other nutrient digestibilities, N flow, or microbial N flow per gram of nutrient digested. The spike in H2(aq) after feeding NO3- provides evidence that methanogenesis is inhibited by substrate access rather than concentration, regardless of defaunation, or by direct inhibition of NO2-. Methanogens were not decreased by defaunation, suggesting a compensatory increase in non-protozoa-associated methanogens or an insignificant contribution of protozoa-associated methanogens. Despite adaptive reduction of NO3- to NH4+ and methane inhibition in continuous culture, practical considerations such as potential to depress dry matter intake and on-farm ration variability should be addressed before considering NO3- as an avenue for greater sustainability of greenhouse gas emissions in US dairy production.
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Affiliation(s)
- B A Wenner
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
| | - B K Wagner
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - N R St-Pierre
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - Z T Yu
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - J L Firkins
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
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28
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Ungerfeld EM, Aedo MF, Muñoz C, Urrutia NL, Martínez ED, Saldivia M. Inhibiting Methanogenesis Stimulated de novo Synthesis of Microbial Amino Acids in Mixed Rumen Batch Cultures Growing on Starch but Not on Cellulose. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8060799. [PMID: 32466548 PMCID: PMC7356843 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ameliorating methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants would have environmental benefits, but it is necessary to redirect metabolic hydrogen ([H]) toward useful sinks to also benefit animal productivity. We hypothesized that inhibiting rumen methanogenesis would increase de novo synthesis of microbial amino acids (AA) as an alternative [H] sink if sufficient energy and carbon are provided. We examined the effects of inhibiting methanogenesis with 9, 10-anthraquione (AQ) on mixed rumen batch cultures growing on cellulose or starch as sources of energy and carbon contrasting in fermentability, with ammonium (NH4+) or trypticase (Try) as nitrogen (N) sources. Inhibiting methanogenesis with AQ inhibited digestion with cellulose but not with starch, and decreased propionate and increased butyrate molar percentages with both substrates. Inhibiting methanogenesis with 9, 10-anthraquinone increased de novo synthesis of microbial AA with starch but not with cellulose. The decrease in the recovery of [H] caused by the inhibition of methanogenesis was more moderate with starch due to an enhancement of butyrate and AA as [H] sinks. There may be an opportunity to simultaneously decrease the emissions of CH4 and N with some ruminant diets and replace plant protein supplements with less expensive non-protein nitrogen sources such as urea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio M. Ungerfeld
- Centro Regional de Investigación Carillanca, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Temuco 4880000, Chile;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-45-2297296
| | - M. Fernanda Aedo
- Centro Regional de Investigación Carillanca, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Temuco 4880000, Chile;
| | - Camila Muñoz
- Centro Regional de Investigación Remehue, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Temuco 5290000, Chile; (C.M.); (N.L.U.)
| | - Natalie L. Urrutia
- Centro Regional de Investigación Remehue, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Temuco 5290000, Chile; (C.M.); (N.L.U.)
| | - Emilio D. Martínez
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (E.D.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Marcelo Saldivia
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; (E.D.M.); (M.S.)
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29
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Review: Fifty years of research on rumen methanogenesis: lessons learned and future challenges for mitigation. Animal 2020; 14:s2-s16. [PMID: 32024560 DOI: 10.1017/s1751731119003100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Meat and milk from ruminants provide an important source of protein and other nutrients for human consumption. Although ruminants have a unique advantage of being able to consume forages and graze lands not suitable for arable cropping, 2% to 12% of the gross energy consumed is converted to enteric CH4 during ruminal digestion, which contributes approximately 6% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, ruminant producers need to find cost-effective ways to reduce emissions while meeting consumer demand for food. This paper provides a critical review of the substantial amount of ruminant CH4-related research published in past decades, highlighting hydrogen flow in the rumen, the microbiome associated with methanogenesis, current and future prospects for CH4 mitigation and insights into future challenges for science, governments, farmers and associated industries. Methane emission intensity, measured as emissions per unit of meat and milk, has continuously declined over the past decades due to improvements in production efficiency and animal performance, and this trend is expected to continue. However, continued decline in emission intensity will likely be insufficient to offset the rising emissions from increasing demand for animal protein. Thus, decreases in both emission intensity (g CH4/animal product) and absolute emissions (g CH4/day) are needed if the ruminant industries continue to grow. Providing producers with cost-effective options for decreasing CH4 emissions is therefore imperative, yet few cost-effective approaches are currently available. Future abatement may be achieved through animal genetics, vaccine development, early life programming, diet formulation, use of alternative hydrogen sinks, chemical inhibitors and fermentation modifiers. Individually, these strategies are expected to have moderate effects (<20% decrease), with the exception of the experimental inhibitor 3-nitrooxypropanol for which decreases in CH4 have consistently been greater (20% to 40% decrease). Therefore, it will be necessary to combine strategies to attain the sizable reduction in CH4 needed, but further research is required to determine whether combining anti-methanogenic strategies will have consistent additive effects. It is also not clear whether a decrease in CH4 production leads to consistent improved animal performance, information that will be necessary for adoption by producers. Major constraints for decreasing global enteric CH4 emissions from ruminants are continued expansion of the industry, the cost of mitigation, the difficulty of applying mitigation strategies to grazing ruminants, the inconsistent effects on animal performance and the paucity of information on animal health, reproduction, product quality, cost-benefit, safety and consumer acceptance.
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Ungerfeld EM. Metabolic Hydrogen Flows in Rumen Fermentation: Principles and Possibilities of Interventions. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:589. [PMID: 32351469 PMCID: PMC7174568 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Rumen fermentation affects ruminants productivity and the environmental impact of ruminant production. The release to the atmosphere of methane produced in the rumen is a loss of energy and a cause of climate change, and the profile of volatile fatty acids produced in the rumen affects the post-absorptive metabolism of the host animal. Rumen fermentation is shaped by intracellular and intercellular flows of metabolic hydrogen centered on the production, interspecies transfer, and incorporation of dihydrogen into competing pathways. Factors that affect the growth of methanogens and the rate of feed fermentation impact dihydrogen concentration in the rumen, which in turn controls the balance between pathways that produce and incorporate metabolic hydrogen, determining methane production and the profile of volatile fatty acids. A basic kinetic model of competition for dihydrogen is presented, and possibilities for intervention to redirect metabolic hydrogen from methanogenesis toward alternative useful electron sinks are discussed. The flows of metabolic hydrogen toward nutritionally beneficial sinks could be enhanced by adding to the rumen fermentation electron acceptors or direct fed microbials. It is proposed to screen hydrogenotrophs for dihydrogen thresholds and affinities, as well as identifying and studying microorganisms that produce and utilize intercellular electron carriers other than dihydrogen. These approaches can allow identifying potential microbial additives to compete with methanogens for metabolic hydrogen. The combination of adequate microbial additives or electron acceptors with inhibitors of methanogenesis can be effective approaches to decrease methane production and simultaneously redirect metabolic hydrogen toward end products of fermentation with a nutritional value for the host animal. The design of strategies to redirect metabolic hydrogen from methane to other sinks should be based on knowledge of the physicochemical control of rumen fermentation pathways. The application of new –omics techniques together with classical biochemistry methods and mechanistic modeling can lead to exciting developments in the understanding and manipulation of the flows of metabolic hydrogen in rumen fermentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio M Ungerfeld
- Laboratorio de Fermentación Ruminal, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Centro Regional Carillanca, Temuco, Chile
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31
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Melgar A, Harper MT, Oh J, Giallongo F, Young ME, Ott TL, Duval S, Hristov AN. Effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol on rumen fermentation, lactational performance, and resumption of ovarian cyclicity in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2019; 103:410-432. [PMID: 31733848 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-17085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the effect of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), a substance under investigation, on enteric methane (CH4) emission, rumen fermentation, lactational performance, sensory properties of milk, and the resumption of ovarian cyclicity in early-lactation dairy cows. Fifty-six multi- and primiparous Holstein cows, including 8 that were rumen cannulated, were used in a 15-wk randomized complete block design experiment. Cows were blocked based on parity and previous lactation milk yield (MY) or predicted MY, and within each block were randomly assigned to one of 2 treatments: (1) control (CON), administered no 3-NOP, or (2) 3-NOP applied at 60 mg/kg of feed dry matter (3-NOP). Enteric CH4 emission was measured during experimental wk 2, 6, 9, and 15, using the GreenFeed system. Dry matter intake (DMI) and MY data were collected daily throughout the experiment, and milk composition samples were collected 7 times during the experiment. Milk samples were collected from 14 to 60 (±2) d after calving, 3 d per week, and assayed for progesterone concentration to determine resumption of ovarian activity. Compared with CON, 3-NOP decreased daily CH4 emission by 26%, CH4 yield (CH4 per kg of DMI) by 21%, and CH4 emission intensity [CH4 per kg of MY or energy-corrected milk (ECM)] by 25%. Enteric emission of carbon dioxide was decreased by 5%, and hydrogen emission was increased 48-fold by 3-NOP. Inclusion of 3-NOP decreased concentration of total volatile fatty acids (by 9.3%) and acetate but increased butyrate molar proportion, ethanol, and formate concentrations in ruminal fluid. Dry matter intake was lower for 3-NOP compared with CON, but DMI expressed as a percentage of body weight was not different between treatments. Treatment had no effect on milk and ECM, body weight change, or body condition score. Milk composition and milk fat and protein yields were not affected by treatment, except that concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in milk were increased by 3-NOP. Nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites and hormones were not affected by 3-NOP, except that insulin was decreased by 3-NOP. There was no effect of 3-NOP on postpartum resumption of ovarian activity, including days to first and second luteal phases, length of first and second luteal phases, and interval from first to second luteal phase. Sensory properties of milk from cows fed 3-NOP and cheese made from that milk were not affected by treatment. In this experiment, 3-NOP decreased daily enteric CH4 emission, emission yield, and emission intensity, improved feed efficiency, and did not affect lactational performance or onset of ovarian activity in early-lactation dairy cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Melgar
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - M T Harper
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - J Oh
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - F Giallongo
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - M E Young
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - T L Ott
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
| | - S Duval
- Research Centre for Animal Nutrition and Health, DSM Nutritional Products, Saint Louis Cedex 68305, France
| | - A N Hristov
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
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Greening C, Geier R, Wang C, Woods LC, Morales SE, McDonald MJ, Rushton-Green R, Morgan XC, Koike S, Leahy SC, Kelly WJ, Cann I, Attwood GT, Cook GM, Mackie RI. Diverse hydrogen production and consumption pathways influence methane production in ruminants. ISME JOURNAL 2019; 13:2617-2632. [PMID: 31243332 PMCID: PMC6776011 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0464-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Farmed ruminants are the largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions globally. The methanogenic archaea responsible for these emissions use molecular hydrogen (H2), produced during bacterial and eukaryotic carbohydrate fermentation, as their primary energy source. In this work, we used comparative genomic, metatranscriptomic and co-culture-based approaches to gain a system-wide understanding of the organisms and pathways responsible for ruminal H2 metabolism. Two-thirds of sequenced rumen bacterial and archaeal genomes encode enzymes that catalyse H2 production or consumption, including 26 distinct hydrogenase subgroups. Metatranscriptomic analysis confirmed that these hydrogenases are differentially expressed in sheep rumen. Electron-bifurcating [FeFe]-hydrogenases from carbohydrate-fermenting Clostridia (e.g., Ruminococcus) accounted for half of all hydrogenase transcripts. Various H2 uptake pathways were also expressed, including methanogenesis (Methanobrevibacter), fumarate and nitrite reduction (Selenomonas), and acetogenesis (Blautia). Whereas methanogenesis-related transcripts predominated in high methane yield sheep, alternative uptake pathways were significantly upregulated in low methane yield sheep. Complementing these findings, we observed significant differential expression and activity of the hydrogenases of the hydrogenogenic cellulose fermenter Ruminococcus albus and the hydrogenotrophic fumarate reducer Wolinella succinogenes in co-culture compared with pure culture. We conclude that H2 metabolism is a more complex and widespread trait among rumen microorganisms than previously recognised. There is evidence that alternative hydrogenotrophs, including acetogenic and respiratory bacteria, can prosper in the rumen and effectively compete with methanogens for H2. These findings may help to inform ongoing strategies to mitigate methane emissions by increasing flux through alternative H2 uptake pathways, including through animal selection, dietary supplementation and methanogenesis inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Greening
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Renae Geier
- Department of Animal Sciences and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Cecilia Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Laura C Woods
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Sergio E Morales
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Michael J McDonald
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Rowena Rushton-Green
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Xochitl C Morgan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Satoshi Koike
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Sinead C Leahy
- Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand
| | | | - Isaac Cann
- Department of Animal Sciences and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Graeme T Attwood
- Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand
| | - Gregory M Cook
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Roderick I Mackie
- Department of Animal Sciences and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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Ungerfeld EM, Aedo MF, Martínez ED, Saldivia M. Inhibiting Methanogenesis in Rumen Batch Cultures Did Not Increase the Recovery of Metabolic Hydrogen in Microbial Amino Acids. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E115. [PMID: 31035537 PMCID: PMC6560395 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7050115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an interest in controlling rumen methanogenesis as an opportunity to both decrease the emissions of greenhouse gases and improve the energy efficiency of rumen fermentation. However, the effects of inhibiting rumen methanogenesis on fermentation are incompletely understood even in in vitro rumen cultures, as the recovery of metabolic hydrogen ([H]) in the main fermentation products consistently decreases with methanogenesis inhibition, evidencing the existence of unaccounted [H] sinks. We hypothesized that inhibiting methanogenesis in rumen batch cultures would redirect [H] towards microbial amino acids (AA) biosynthesis as an alternative [H] sink to methane (CH4). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of eight inhibitors of methanogenesis on digestion, fermentation and the production of microbial biomass and AA in rumen batch cultures growing on cellulose. Changes in the microbial community composition were also studied using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Inhibiting methanogenesis did not cause consistent changes in fermentation or the profile of AA, although the effects caused by the different inhibitors generally associated with the changes in the microbial community that they induced. Under the conditions of this experiment, inhibiting methanogenesis did not increase the importance of microbial AA synthesis as a [H] sink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio M Ungerfeld
- Centro Regional de Investigación Carillanca, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Temuco 4880000, Chile.
| | - M Fernanda Aedo
- Centro Regional de Investigación Carillanca, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias INIA, Temuco 4880000, Chile.
| | - Emilio D Martínez
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile.
| | - Marcelo Saldivia
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile.
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Meller RA, Wenner BA, Ashworth J, Gehman AM, Lakritz J, Firkins JL. Potential roles of nitrate and live yeast culture in suppressing methane emission and influencing ruminal fermentation, digestibility, and milk production in lactating Jersey cows. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:6144-6156. [PMID: 31030922 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-16008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Concern over the carbon footprint of the dairy industry has led to various dietary approaches to mitigate enteric CH4 production. One approach is feeding the electron acceptor NO3-, thus outcompeting methanogens for aqueous H2. We hypothesized that a live yeast culture (LYC; Saccharomyces cerevisiae from Yea-Sacc 1026, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY) would stimulate the complete reduction of NO3- to NH3 by selenomonads, thus decreasing the quantity of CH4 emissions per unit of energy-corrected milk production while decreasing blood methemoglobin concentration resulting from the absorbed intermediate, NO2-. Twelve lactating Jersey cows (8 multiparous and noncannulated; 4 primiparous and ruminally cannulated) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Cattle were fed diets containing 1.5% NO3- (from calcium ammonium nitrate) or an isonitrogenous control diet (containing additional urea) and given a top-dress of ground corn without or with LYC, with the fourth week used for data collection. Noncannulated cows were spot measured for CH4 emission by mouth using GreenFeed (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD). The main effect of NO3- decreased CH4 by 17% but decreased dry matter intake by 10% (from 19.8 to 17.8 kg/d) such that CH4:dry matter intake numerically decreased by 8% and CH4:milk net energy for lactation production was unaffected by treatment. Milk and milk fat production were not affected, but NO3- decreased milk protein from 758 to 689 g/d. Ruminal pH decreased more sharply after feeding for cows fed diets without NO3-. Acetate:propionate was greater for cows fed NO3-, particularly when combined with LYC (interaction effect). Blood methemoglobin was higher for cattle fed NO3- than for those fed the control diet but was low for both treatments (1.5 vs. 0.5%, respectively; only one measurement exceeded 5%), indicating minimal risk for NO2- accumulation at our feeding level of NO3-. Although neither apparent organic matter nor neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were affected, apparent N digestibility had an interaction for NO3- × LYC such that apparent N digestibility was numerically lowest for diets containing both NO3- and LYC compared with the other 3 diets. Under the conditions of this study, NO3- mitigated ruminal methanogenesis but also depressed dry matter intake and milk protein yield. Based on the fact that few interactions were detected, LYC had a minimal role in attenuating negative cow responses to NO3- supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Meller
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - B A Wenner
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - J Ashworth
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - A M Gehman
- Alltech, 3031 Catnip Hill Pike, Nicholasville, KY 40356
| | - J Lakritz
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210
| | - J L Firkins
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
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