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- Title
Methane emission, ruminal fermentation parameters and fatty acid profile of meat in Santa Inês lambs fed the legume macrotiloma.
- Authors
Lima, Paulo de Mello Tavares; Filho, Adibe Luiz Abdalla; Issakowicz, Juliano; Ieda, Egon Hion; Corrêa, Patrícia Spoto; de Mattos, Waldssimiler Teixeira; Gerdes, Luciana; McManus, Concepta; Abdalla, Adibe Luiz; Louvandini, Helder
- Abstract
Context: Using legumes in ruminant production system may provide benefits such as improvement in animal performance and decrease in methane (CH4) emissions, mainly based on nutritional characteristics of these plants and the presence of tannins. Macrotiloma (Macrotyloma axillare) is a tropical legume that still lacks studies regarding its effects on animal performance and CH4 emissions. Aims: The objective of this experiment was to evaluate productive performance, CH4 emission, ruminal fermentation parameters, carcass characteristics and fatty acid profile of the meat from lambs fed tropical grass hay supplemented with the legume forage macrotiloma. Methods: For a 90-day experimental period, 14 Santa Inês male lambs (aging 100 days; 18.06 ± 3.26 kg initial bodyweight) were allocated in individual pens and divided into two treatments: chopped aruana grass (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) hay (CON); aruana hay supplemented with chopped macrotiloma hay at a ratio of 75 : 25 grass to legume (MAC). Lambs were weighed fortnightly for calculation of average daily bodyweight gain (ADG) and CH4 emission was measured on three occasions (days 28 to 32; 57 to 61; 85 to 89) using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique. At the last day of CH4 collection, rumen fluid samples were collected for: determination of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA); ruminal protozoa count; and relative abundance determination of general bacteria (BACT); Ruminococcus flavefaciens (RUMI); Fibrobacter succinogenes (FIBRO); methanogenic archaea (METH) by real-time quantitative PCR (real-time-qPCR) analysis. Subsequently, after 16 h fasting, the animals were slaughtered; carcass characteristics were then evaluated and longissimus thoracis samples were collected for fatty acid profile analysis. Key results: No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed between MAC and CON for productive performance, CH4 emission, SCFA and carcass characteristics. Reduced protozoa count and relative abundance of METH were observed for MAC (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Despite the lack of effects on productive performance and CH4 emission, the decreased relative abundance of METH and protozoa count indicated that macrotiloma may possibly present anti-methanogenic activity. Implications: The inclusion of this legume in the diet of ruminants may affect rumen microbes and potentially decrease environmental impacts of the production system. Feeding legumes may provide sustainability in tropical ruminant production systems by improving nutritional quality of diet and reducing greenhouse gases emissions. In this study we evaluated productive aspects and methane (CH4) emission from lambs fed the legume forage Macrotyloma axillare (macrotiloma). Productive performance was not affected, but the results indicated possible anti-methanogenic potential despite the lack of effects on CH4 emissions itself. Further studies are required to increase knowledge regarding the use of this legume in ruminant nutrition.
- Subjects
ANIMAL carcasses; LEGUMES; FATTY acid analysis; FATTY acids; RUMINANT nutrition; LAMBS; GUINEA grass
- Publication
Animal Production Science, 2020, Vol 60, Issue 5, p665
- ISSN
1836-0939
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1071/AN19127