The inclusion of a companion legume or herb, in combination with perennial ryegrass increased growth performance and reduced enteric methane emissions in lambs post-weaning.

IF 2.7 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Journal of animal science Pub Date : 2025-05-26 DOI:10.1093/jas/skaf139

Sarah Woodmartin,Fiona McGovern,Paul E Smith,Tommy M Boland,Lisa McGrane,Anthony Monaghan,Eoin Dunne,Philip Creighton

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Increasing lamb growth rates directly from pasture and reducing enteric methane (CH4) emissions are key drivers to enhancing production efficiency and achieving more sustainable lamb finishing systems. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of binary sward mixtures of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plus a companion forage on growth performance, enteric CH4 output, reticulo-rumen content weight (RRcw), rumen fermentation parameters and the composition of the rumen microbiome in growing lambs. A randomized block design was employed to investigate five treatments, namely, perennial ryegrass (PRG), PRG plus white clover (Trifolium repens L.; PRG+WC), PRG plus red clover (Trifolium pratense L.; PRG+RC), PRG plus chicory (Chicorium intybus L.; PRG+Chic) and PRG plus plantain (Plantago lanceolate L.; PRG+Plan). At weaning, 120 lambs (n = 24 per treatment) were selected in both 2021 and 2022 for CH4 measurement using portable accumulation chambers. A further subset of 60 lambs (n = 12 per treatment) were selected from the initial 120 lambs in each year for rumen measurements and sampling. Lambs were weighed fortnightly and drafted for slaughter upon reaching their target live weight (LW). Rumen fluid was harvested using a transoesophageal sampling device post-weaning and manually immediately post-mortem. Average sward companion forage content was 28% on a dry matter basis. Lambs grazing PRG+WC, PRG+RC or PRG+Chic had a higher post-weaning average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.001) and an increased lifetime ADG (P < 0.001), compared with lambs grazing PRG. The addition of any companion forage resulted in a reduction in age at slaughter of 16-50 days (P < 0.001). Methane production (g/day) and CH4 intensity (g/kg LW and g/kg ADG) were reduced for lambs grazing PRG+WC, PRG+RC, and PRG+Plan (P < 0.001), compared with those grazing PRG. There was a lower relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter (P < 0.001) in lambs grazing PRG+RC over those grazing PRG, PRG+Chic and PRG+Plan. The presence of Prevotella was more abundant in lambs grazing the legume treatments, PRG+WC and PRG+RC, than those grazing PRG (P < 0.001). The RRcw of the PRG lambs was heavier than lambs grazing PRG+WC, PRG+RC and PRG+Plan (P < 0.001). These results suggest that the manipulation of pasture species composition is a promising, practical and feasible strategy to enhance production efficiency and mitigate CH4 from pasture-based lamb production systems.

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在断奶后的羔羊中添加豆类或草本植物，并与多年生黑麦草相结合，提高了羔羊的生长性能，减少了肠道甲烷排放。

提高直接来自牧场的羔羊生长速度和减少肠道甲烷（CH4）排放是提高生产效率和实现更可持续的羔羊肥育系统的关键驱动因素。本试验旨在研究多年生黑麦草（Lolium perenne L.）与伴生饲料混合饲喂对生长羔羊生长性能、肠道CH4排泄量、网状-瘤胃含量重（RRcw）、瘤胃发酵参数和瘤胃微生物组组成的影响。采用随机区组设计研究多年生黑麦草（PRG）、PRG +白三叶草(Trifolium repens L.；PRG+WC)， PRG+红三叶草(Trifolium pratense L.；PRG+RC)， PRG+菊苣(Chicorium intybus L.；PRG+Chic)和PRG+车前草(Plantago lanceolate L.；PRG +计划)。断奶时，在2021年和2022年分别选择120只羔羊（每处理24只），使用便携式积累箱测量CH4。每年从最初的120只羔羊中再选择60只羔羊（每次处理n = 12）进行瘤胃测量和采样。羔羊每两周称重一次，在达到目标活重（LW）后进行屠宰。在断奶后使用经食管取样装置收集瘤胃液，并在死后立即手动采集。在干物质基础上，禾草伴生牧草平均含量为28%。饲喂PRG+WC、PRG+RC或PRG+Chic的羔羊断奶后平均日增重（ADG）显著高于饲喂PRG的羔羊（P < 0.001），其寿命ADG显著高于饲喂PRG的羔羊（P < 0.001）。添加任何伴生饲料均可降低16 ~ 50日龄（P < 0.001）。放牧PRG+WC、PRG+RC和PRG+Plan的羔羊甲烷产量（g/d）和CH4强度（g/kg LW和g/kg ADG）均低于放牧PRG的羔羊（P < 0.001）。PRG+RC放牧羔羊的甲烷预菌相对丰度低于PRG、PRG+Chic和PRG+Plan放牧羔羊（P < 0.001）。饲喂豆科、PRG+WC和PRG+RC的羔羊中普雷沃氏菌的含量显著高于饲喂PRG的羔羊（P < 0.001）。PRG羔羊的RRcw显著高于PRG+WC、PRG+RC和PRG+Plan放牧羔羊（P < 0.001）。这些结果表明，控制牧草物种组成是提高牧羊生产效率和减少CH4的一种有希望、实用和可行的策略。

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来源期刊

Journal of animal science 农林科学-奶制品与动物科学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

12.10%

发文量

1589

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Animal Science (JAS) is the premier journal for animal science and serves as the leading source of new knowledge and perspective in this area. JAS publishes more than 500 fully reviewed research articles, invited reviews, technical notes, and letters to the editor each year. Articles published in JAS encompass a broad range of research topics in animal production and fundamental aspects of genetics, nutrition, physiology, and preparation and utilization of animal products. Articles typically report research with beef cattle, companion animals, goats, horses, pigs, and sheep; however, studies involving other farm animals, aquatic and wildlife species, and laboratory animal species that address fundamental questions related to livestock and companion animal biology will be considered for publication.