TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of multispecies swards on ruminal fermentation, methane emission and potential for climate care cattle farming − an in vitro study
AU - M U, Hassan
AU - Sidoruk, P
AU - Lechniak, D
AU - Szumacher-Strabel, M
AU - Bocianowski, J
AU - Slusarczyk, S
AU - Hargreaves, PR
AU - Ruska, D
AU - Dorbe, A
AU - Kreismane, Dz
AU - Klumpp, K
AU - Bloor, J
AU - Rees, RM
AU - Kuipers, A
AU - Galama, P
AU - Váradyová, Z
AU - Cobanová, K
AU - Cieslak, A
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s)
Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2025/1/10
Y1 - 2025/1/10
N2 - Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock ruminants, particularly methane (CH
4), nitrous oxide, and indirectly ammonia (NH
3) significantly contribute to climate change and global warming. Conventional monoculture swards for cattle feeding, such as perennial ryegrass or Italian ryegrass, usually require substantial fertiliser inputs. Such management elevates soil mineral nitrogen levels, resulting in GHG emissions and potential water contamination. Mitigating the environmental footprint of these farming practices requires sustainable alternative feeding strategies for cattle production. Multispecies grassland swards (grass + legumes or legumes + herbs) represent a promising alternative to monoculture grassland swards for cattle nutrition due to their reduced nitrogen requirements, excellent herbage yield, and polyphenolic compounds (tannins, formononetin, luteolin, quercetin, and acteoside) which may have positive effects on animals. This study investigated the effects of selected multispecies grassland swards (plant blends) on in vitro ruminal fermentation and DM digestibility. Three experimental blends of plants cultivated without fertilisers were utilised: (1) perennial ryegrass (PRG) + red clover (RC), (2) chicory (C) + red clover (RC), and (3) Tonic plantain (PLA) + red clover (RC). The control blend included perennial ryegrass (PRG), and red clover (RC) cultivated with fertiliser. The in vitro trial showed a reduction in CH
4 production and ruminal NH
3 concentration (by 14.7 and 28.8%, respectively; P < 0.01) in the PLA+RC blend compared to the control. This plant blend also increased propionate concentration (P < 0.05) and reduced acetate and butyrate concentrations and the acetate-propionate ratio (P < 0.01). Additionally, the total protozoal and methanogen counts were mostly reduced by the PLA+RC blend (P < 0.01) among all blends investigated. In conclusion, the Tonic plantain and red clover blend (PLA+RC) cultivated without fertilisers have the potential to be utilised as a sustainable alternative feed source for climate-friendly cattle production, aligning with the aims of the European Climate Care Cattle Farming project.
AB - Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock ruminants, particularly methane (CH
4), nitrous oxide, and indirectly ammonia (NH
3) significantly contribute to climate change and global warming. Conventional monoculture swards for cattle feeding, such as perennial ryegrass or Italian ryegrass, usually require substantial fertiliser inputs. Such management elevates soil mineral nitrogen levels, resulting in GHG emissions and potential water contamination. Mitigating the environmental footprint of these farming practices requires sustainable alternative feeding strategies for cattle production. Multispecies grassland swards (grass + legumes or legumes + herbs) represent a promising alternative to monoculture grassland swards for cattle nutrition due to their reduced nitrogen requirements, excellent herbage yield, and polyphenolic compounds (tannins, formononetin, luteolin, quercetin, and acteoside) which may have positive effects on animals. This study investigated the effects of selected multispecies grassland swards (plant blends) on in vitro ruminal fermentation and DM digestibility. Three experimental blends of plants cultivated without fertilisers were utilised: (1) perennial ryegrass (PRG) + red clover (RC), (2) chicory (C) + red clover (RC), and (3) Tonic plantain (PLA) + red clover (RC). The control blend included perennial ryegrass (PRG), and red clover (RC) cultivated with fertiliser. The in vitro trial showed a reduction in CH
4 production and ruminal NH
3 concentration (by 14.7 and 28.8%, respectively; P < 0.01) in the PLA+RC blend compared to the control. This plant blend also increased propionate concentration (P < 0.05) and reduced acetate and butyrate concentrations and the acetate-propionate ratio (P < 0.01). Additionally, the total protozoal and methanogen counts were mostly reduced by the PLA+RC blend (P < 0.01) among all blends investigated. In conclusion, the Tonic plantain and red clover blend (PLA+RC) cultivated without fertilisers have the potential to be utilised as a sustainable alternative feed source for climate-friendly cattle production, aligning with the aims of the European Climate Care Cattle Farming project.
KW - In vitro digestibility
KW - Methanogenesis
KW - Ruminants
KW - Sustainability
KW - Tonic plantain
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85212535873
U2 - 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101386
DO - 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101386
M3 - Article
C2 - 39708734
SN - 1751-7311
VL - 19
SP - 101386
JO - Animal
JF - Animal
IS - 1
M1 - 101386
ER -
