Livestock Science最新文献

{"title":"Mild synergistic effects of a dietary source of polyphenols (Ceratonia siliqua L.) and vitamin E on light lambs’ rumination activity, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal redox-immune markers","authors":"Diego Nicolas Bottegal ,&nbsp;Sandra Lobón ,&nbsp;Beatriz Serrano-Pérez ,&nbsp;María José Martín-Alonso ,&nbsp;María Ángeles Latorre ,&nbsp;Javier Álvarez-Rodríguez","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of carob pulp (0 vs. 20 % Cp, <em>Ceratonia siliqua</em> L.) and vitamin E (Vit E, 40 vs. 300 IU/kg of concentrate) on growth performance, time-budget and eating behaviour, blood metabolites, gastrointestinal and immune markers of fattening light lambs. Seventy-two weaned lambs (females and entire males) were randomly allocated in 12 group pens (6 animals/pen) in a 2 × 2 nutritional factorial design. Growth performance was evaluated, and blood samples were collected twice, whereas behaviour and eating pattern were recorded three times in the fattening period. Gene expression was evaluated by collecting ruminal, jejunal and ileal tissue samples at slaughter. The Cp inclusion did not affect lambs’ performance, but the High Vit E improved the lambs’ growth. Likewise, both Cp and High Vit E independently increased the haematocrit value while only High Vit E improved the plasma α-tocopherol concentration and decreased the ratio MDA: α-tocopherol, considered a proxy of enhanced redox balance. Providing simultaneously 20 % of Cp and High Vit E boosted rumination activity. Dietary Cp modified the eating pattern which was slightly delayed to the early afternoon, and decreased blood lactate. In the jejunum, High Vit E and 20 %-Cp diets down-regulated IFN-γ expression, while High Vit E down-regulated TNF-α expression. In the ileum, Cp decreased the expression of GPX2, whereas High Vit E down-regulated TGF-β and up-regulated CAT expression. Mild synergistic effects of dietary Cp and Vit E were evident on the nutritional status and gastrointestinal redox-immune markers of concentrate-fed lambs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 105628"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143170390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental assessment and mitigation strategies for dairy cattle farms in Colombia: Greenhouse gas emissions, non-renewable energy use, and land use","authors":"Ricardo González-Quintero ,&nbsp;Rolando Barahona-Rosales ,&nbsp;Jacobo Arango ,&nbsp;Diana María Bolívar-Vergara ,&nbsp;Manuel Gómez ,&nbsp;Ngonidzashe Chirinda ,&nbsp;María Solange Sánchez-Pinzón","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Colombia, cattle farming is responsible for 15 % of national greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), consequently, it is crucial to develop mitigation strategies that can reduce their climate impact. Using a Life Cycle Assessment approach, this study quantified the environmental burdens of 192 specialized dairy systems and determined mitigation strategies. Carbon footprint (CF), land use, and non-renewable energy use were calculated by applying the 2019 Refinement to 2006 IPCC guidelines and impact factors. The functional units considered were one kilogram of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) and one kilogram of live weight gain (LWG) from a cradle-to-farm-gate perspective. The findings revealed that enteric fermentation and manure left in pastures were the primary sources of on-farm GHGE, while feed manufacturing contributed significantly to off-farm emissions. Milk CF values ranged between 0.6 to 3.9 kg CO₂-eq kg FPCM⁻¹ when the biological allocation method was applied. Through clustering analysis, three farm clusters were identified, with Cluster 1 demonstrating higher milk productivity, better paddock and cattle manageability, and improved environmental behavior compared to the other clusters. The adoption of improved pastures as a mitigation strategy resulted in a significant reduction of milk CF by 20 % to 39 %. This study provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of mitigation strategies such as the inclusion of improved pastures, adoption of good cattle management practices, improvements in fertilizer usage, identification of an adequate stocking rate, and enhancement of milk yields in dairy production systems. These reductions in GHGE intensities can be achieved with a negative economic cost, highlighting the potential for sustainable and economically viable cattle farming practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 105625"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143170384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of grazing deprivation as compared to grazing restriction on hair and saliva cortisol levels in pregnant ewes","authors":"Ricard Parés ,&nbsp;Pol Llonch ,&nbsp;Manel López-Béjar ,&nbsp;Anaïs Carbajal ,&nbsp;Xavier Such ,&nbsp;Xavier Manteca","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105609","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105609","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grazing is a natural behaviour of ruminants and when access to pasture is deprivated, a behavioural frustration appears, which can lead to chronic stress. In sheep, no response of stress biomarkers like cortisol has been studied in permanent housed ewes. In the present study, two groups of twenty pregnant Ripollesa ewes were used in a 10-week experiment. The 5h-grazing group (5h-G), had access to pasture five hours daily, and the housed group (H) had no access to pasture and remained permanently in the barn. Hair samples were collected on Weeks 5 and 10 of grazing deprivation (W5, W10), and saliva samples on Weeks 0, 3, 5, 8 and 10 (W0, W3, W5, W8, W10). No significant differences in hair cortisol (HC) or saliva cortisol (SC) were observed between Groups 5h-G and H throughout the study period (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in ewes carrying one or two lambs (PROL1 HC=4.97±0.1, PROL2 HC=7.20±0.1, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). No evidence of chronic stress could be detected through cortisol levels in hair and saliva although abnormal behaviours appeared in previous results published from the same experience. Saliva cortisol showed a significant variability over time and it should be used in a combination with other biomarkers. Further research is needed to analyse pregnancy effect, longer periods of grazing deprivation, and the use of wool samples or other body regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 105609"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142746231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of an attention bias test after surgical castration in piglets","authors":"Jessica M. Neary ,&nbsp;Ahmed B.A. Ali ,&nbsp;Leonie Jacobs","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Surgical castration of male piglets is a routine procedure performed to improve meat quality. Prior studies have shown that pain due to castration can last for up to 4 days, negatively impacting animal welfare, however the impact on affect, such as anxiety, is unclear. The objective of this study was to test the application of a novel attention bias test to assess anxiety in piglets that underwent surgical castration with or without practical pain alleviation methods. Piglets were surgically castrated (<em>n</em> = 22), castrated with analgesics (<em>n</em> = 21), or sham-handled (<em>n</em> = 22) at 3 days of age. An attention bias test was performed in week 1 (<em>n</em> = 32, 10–11/treatment) and 12 (<em>n</em> = 29, 9–10/treatment) to assess anxiety (an affective state), with feed (positive stimulus), loud bangs, and flashing lights (negative stimuli) presented simultaneously. Latency to visit the feeder, behavioral responses, and activity were recorded during the test. Additional data on piglets’ activity, tails, and grimaces were collected at three timepoints, at 1, 6, and 24 h after castration to determine pain experience. Piglets’ increased activity (<em>P</em> = 0.065), the fact that fewer piglets visited the feeder (<em>P</em> = 0.029), and tended to have longer latencies to visit the feeder (<em>P</em> = 0.092) in the attention bias test in week 1 might suggest that pain caused by surgical castration increased anxiety. No differences were detected in week 12. Castration treatment and sampling timepoint impacted activity levels hours after treatments, however, other measures were not impacted. These results suggest that more research is needed to determine how affect is impacted by pain caused by surgical castration. Activity and behavioral results somewhat support previous findings that surgical castration causes pain in piglets. As this is the first study assessing the relationship between painful procedures and piglet anxiety, more research is needed to determine a valid method to understand the impacts of these procedures on pig affect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 105612"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142746230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of dry matter concentration in grass silage on milk production of dairy cows fed concentrates high or low in metabolizable protein concentration","authors":"M. Grøseth ,&nbsp;L. Karlsson ,&nbsp;H. Steinshamn ,&nbsp;M. Johansen ,&nbsp;A. Kidane ,&nbsp;E. Prestløkken","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studies have shown that extended wilting of grass before ensiling can improve the metabolizable protein (MP) value of the grass silage, both from increased rumen microbial crude protein (MCP) yield and ruminally undegraded crude protein (RUP). We hypothesised that extending the wilting of grass before ensiling can increase milk and milk protein production in dairy cows. Consequently, increased silage MP can reduce the need for MP in concentrate, estimated as amino acids absorbed in the small intestine (AAT20). To test this, a continuous feeding experiment was conducted, with 48 early- to mid-lactation Norwegian Red dairy cows. Treatments were 2 wilting levels of grass silages: 260 vs. 417 g dry matter (DM) per kg, and 2 qualities of concentrates differing in MP, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (<em>n</em> = 12). The concentrates were low MP (LMP); 104 g AAT20/kg DM, and high MP (HMP); 123 g AAT20/kg DM, supplied at 8.75 kg DM/cow per day. The cows had ad libitum access to the grass silages. The experiment lasted for 11 weeks. The first 2 weeks, where cows received identical diets, were used as the covariate period. Those data together with data collected the last 4 weeks were used for statistical evaluation of treatments. Increasing DM concentration in silage reduced lactic acid, ammonia nitrogen and proportion of methionine in the grass silage, while it increased residual water-soluble carbohydrates, pH, proportion of aspartic acid and rumen degradability of NDF. There was no difference between treatments in daily silage DM intake (13.1 kg), milk yield (30.2 kg) or milk composition. However, feeding HMP increased urea and uric acid in urine, and urea in blood plasma, thereby reduced N efficiency. No major differences were found for rumen pH, or purine derivatives to creatinine index in urine, as indication for MCP. There was significantly more histidine in blood plasma when cows were fed HMP concentrate. In conclusion, increased DM concentration in silage and HMP concentrate did not increase milk production or milk protein yield in this study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 105611"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142757577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What is the impact of neutral detergent fibre digestibility on productive performance of beef cattle fed tropical forages?","authors":"Edenio Detmann ,&nbsp;Luiz Carlos O. de Sousa ,&nbsp;Nicole S.A. Lima ,&nbsp;Marcia O. Franco","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105608","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our objective was to quantify the relationship between total neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility and nutritional and productive characteristics in cattle fed tropical forages using a meta-analytical approach. The dataset used to develop this work was compiled from 24 experiments carried out with beef cattle in Brazil, published between 2005 and 2020, and totalising 115 treatment means. All the experiments were carried out using change-over designs and included a control treatment (i.e., only forage). There was a linear and positive relationship (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) between total NDF digestibility and voluntary forage intake. We estimated a 0.17 g/kg body weight increase in forage intake for each percentage point (i.e., 0.01 g/g) of improvement in NDF digestibility. On average, increasing total NDF digestibility caused a linear improvement (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) in rumen microbial nitrogen production (NMIC) and in dietary digested organic matter (DOM). The total NDF digestibility was linear and positively associated with nitrogen balance (NB, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). However, the increment in NB as a response to total NDF digestibility was more prominent as dietary NDF decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). In summary, we concluded that increasing NDF digestibility in cattle fed tropical forage-based diets improves the voluntary forage intake and the supply of energy and metabolisable protein. This simultaneous effect causes an increase in the animal's nitrogen accretion and weight gain, but this effect will be more prominent as the dietary content of neutral detergent fibre decreases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 105608"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142662016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization and mitigation measures for carbon dioxide, methane, and ammonia emissions in dairy barns","authors":"Victor Crespo de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Leonardo França da Silva ,&nbsp;Carlos Eduardo Alves Oliveira ,&nbsp;José Rafael Franco ,&nbsp;Sergio Augusto Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Cristiano Márcio Alves de Souza ,&nbsp;Rafaella Resende Andrade ,&nbsp;Flávio Alves Damasceno ,&nbsp;Ilda de Fátima Ferreira Tinôco ,&nbsp;Gianluca Bambi","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105595","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The agricultural sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with dairy production being a significant source. In this context, the study aims to characterize CO₂, CH₄, and NH₃ emissions—key gases in dairy barns—and to evaluate strategies for mitigating these emissions. Inside dairy barns, the primary sources of CO₂, CH₄, and NH₃ emissions are linked to the enteric processes of the animals and the waste deposited within the dairy barns. CO₂ mainly originates from animal respiration and the decomposition of organic matter. CH₄ is generated through enteric fermentation in the rumen and the anaerobic decomposition of manure. Additionally, NH₃ is released from the enzymatic breakdown of urea in urine. Mitigation efforts have shown promise within dairy barns through various approaches. Optimizing animal diets by incorporating supplements and controlling protein intake helps reduce methane production from enteric fermentation. Enhanced manure management practices, including separating feces and urine, adjusting manure pH, and increasing cleaning frequency, are effective in minimizing ammonia and methane emissions within dairy barns. Nevertheless, achieving significant emission reductions also requires effective waste management beyond the facilities. This study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable livestock production by addressing both emission sources and potential solutions in dairy farming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 105595"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142661961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing growth performance and health of coloured-broiler chickens with signal grass meal (Brachiaria decumbens) supplementation under tropical conditions","authors":"Yee Lyn Ong ,&nbsp;Eric Lim Teik Chung ,&nbsp;Nazri Nayan ,&nbsp;Muhamad Faris Ab Aziz ,&nbsp;Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse ,&nbsp;Awis Qurni Sazili ,&nbsp;Frank R. Dunshea","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105585","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105585","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the impact of signal grass (<em>Brachiaria decumbens)</em> as a phytobiotic supplement on the production performance and health of coloured-broiler chickens reared in tropical environments. A total of 216 day-old Sasso broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six treatment groups with six replications each. All six treatments received the same commercial diets with some adjustments: Treatment 1 (negative control) with only commercial feed, Treatment 2 (positive control) with 100 mg kg^-1g kg^-1 oxytetracycline, Treatment 3, 4, 5, and 6 with 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00 g kg^-1 of <em>B. decumbens</em> grass meal, respectively, without antibiotic. Throughout the eight-week study, body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly for each replicate to calculate body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Additional evaluations included nutrient digestibility, gut histomorphology, cecal microflora population, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Blood biomarkers and biochemistry were also analysed to evaluate the chickens' health status. Results indicated that broilers supplemented with <em>B. decumbens</em> grass meal, particularly T6 showed significantly (p&lt;0.05) superior growth performance compared to the negative with reduced FCR of 6.8%. Apparent ileal digestibility was also significantly improved in T6, with 22.32% higher CP digestibility. Enhanced gut histomorphology and a healthier cecal microbial population supported improved nutrient absorption and overall gut health, as evidenced by significant increases in the villi-to-crypt ratio and a higher coliform count than the control. Enhanced carcass characteristics, such as higher full gizzard and gastrointestinal tract weights of T6 broilers, further supported improved digestibility. The supplementation also improved meat quality, with blood biomarkers indicating lower stress and inflammation levels comparable to T2. Additionally, the blood biochemistry of T6 broilers suggested hepatoprotective and hypocholesterolemic effects. Therefore, broilers in T6 demonstrated that <em>B. decumbens</em> has significant potential as an effective feed additive to replace antibiotics in the tropical poultry sector due to its phytocompounds profile, including high saponin content.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 105585"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142553864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic markers associated with beef quality: A review","authors":"Jakeline Vieira Romero ,&nbsp;José Luis Olleta ,&nbsp;Virginia Celia Resconi ,&nbsp;Pilar Santolaria ,&nbsp;María del Mar Campo","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Classic animal breeding focuses on changes in genetic composition of populations through selection and breeding systems designed to increase the frequency of favorable alleles incrementing production by improving traits of commercial interest. Meat quality involves traits that have received considerable attention in genetic breeding programs in recent years. The genomic selection using single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) markers is a strong tool to obtain desired phenotypes for economically important traits, including those which are perceived by consumers. Trait such as back and intramuscular fat contribute to the juiciness, flavor and tenderness of beef, all of which directly influences consumer choice. Over the years, many studies have been conducted resulting in multiple quantitative trait locus (QTLs) candidates for carcass and meat quality traits, and an extensive database has been created. Traits such as marbling score, intramuscular fat and subcutaneous fat thickness (which includes back fat and rump fat thickness), have been associated with 2448, 192 and 1044 QTLs, respectively. Although genetic analyses are costly and laborious, the use of molecular markers help to increase favorable genes in the population. Their advance is becoming more concrete and acceptable as a measure of economic importance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 105583"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142553862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of enriched biochar on methane emissions, rumen microbial structure and rumen fermentation characteristics in Holstein steers","authors":"Mingbo Ni ,&nbsp;Mariano C. Parra ,&nbsp;Alex V. Chaves ,&nbsp;Sarah J. Meale","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nutritional strategies, such as oil inclusion or addition of 3-Nitrooxypropanol, to reduce methane emissions from ruminants show promise, but have not been as effective in low quality or roughage based diets. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of enriched biochar on methane production and fermentation characteristics in an oaten hay diet. This study used a 3 × 3 Latin square design, where 3 fistulated Holstein steers (790 ± 100 kg initial body weight) were fed a basal diet of oaten hay, with either 1) oaten pellets (Control), 2) Oaten pellets containing biochar at 1 % of dietary DM; or 3) Oaten pellets containing enriched biochar at 1 % DM. Each period lasted for 21 d, including 14 d dietary adaptation and 7 d experimental measurement. Rumen samples were collected on d 17–21 for determination of liquid and solid associated microbes, and rumen fermentation characteristics. The sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) tracer technique was used to quantify methane emissions. Body weights (kg), dry matter and organic matter intakes (DMI and OMI), methane production (g/d), methane intensity (g kg^-1 BW) and methane yield (g kg^-1 DMI) were similar (<em>P</em> ≥ 0.12) across the three treatment groups. Similarly, total VFA concentration and individual percentages of VFA were similar across treatments (<em>P</em> ≥ 0.16). Microbes in the solid and liquid fractions showed little differences among treatments (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.049) indicating that biochar included in an oaten hay diet, whether standard or enriched, had little effect on rumen fermentation, microbial communities or methane emissions in Holstein steers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"289 ","pages":"Article 105590"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142560738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}