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The variation in methane emissions from sheep and cattle is not explained by the chemical composition of ryegrass
Hammond KJ, Muetzel S, Waghorn GC, Pinares-Patino CS, Burke JL, Hoskin SO
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 69, pp 174-178, Jun 2009
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 69, pp 174-178, Jun 2009
Article class: Conference Presentation
Subject Terms: Biochemistry/chemistry, Environment, Pasture/crop
Publisher: New Zealand Society of Animal ProductionAbstract
A data base of over 3,000 ruminant methane emission records from individual animals used to compile New Zealand's greenhouse gas inventory, shows substantial variation in CH4 yields (g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)) within and between forage types. Multiple regression analyses were undertaken using datasets from sheep and cattle fed fresh ryegrass to determine the extent to which variation in CH4 yields could be explained by ryegrass chemical composition. Methane was measured using the SF6 marker dilution technique with sheep and cattle, and also directly by respiration calorimetry from sheep. Data from sheep showed a similar average CH4 yield from both techniques, but there was more variation in SF6 data (23.4 ± 5.73) than from calorimetry (23.1 ± 2.89). Cattle CH4 yields averaged 19.1 ± 3.70 g/kg DMI. Multiple regression analysis of sheep data showed pasture chemical composition accounted for <2% of the variation determined by SF6 and 20% of the variation from calorimetry. Only 13% of the variation in yield from cattle was explained by ryegrass composition, so the majority of variance (>80%) was not explained. We suggest the variation in CH4 emissions is affected by digestive characteristics of individual animals, and interactions with forage physical and chemical components.The whole of the literary matter of the Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production is copyright New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Downloading this article signifies agreement with the terms and conditions of electronic access.
