Effect of added dietary nitrate and elemental sulfur on wool growth and methane emission of Merino lambs
L. Li A B , C. I. Silveira A , J. V. Nolan A , I. R. Godwin A , R. A. Leng A and R. S. Hegarty A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: lli3@une.edu.au
Animal Production Science 53(11) 1195-1201 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN13222
Submitted: 15 July 2013 Accepted: 19 August 2013 Published: 6 September 2013
Abstract
The effects of dietary nitrate (NO3) and elemental sulfur (S) on nutrient utilisation, productivity, and methane emission of Merino lambs were investigated. Forty-four lambs were randomly allocated to four groups (n = 11) fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets. The basal feed was supplemented with 1% urea + 0.18% S (T1), 1.88% NO3 + 0% S (T2), 1.88% NO3 + 0.18% S (T3), or 1.88% NO3 + 0.40% S (T4). Retention of S was improved by increasing the content of elemental S in the NO3-containing diet (P < 0.001), yet the N retention (g/day) by the animal, and the N and S content of wool (%), were not altered by S supplementation (P > 0.05). Dry matter intake, liveweight gain, and feed conversion ratio did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments. Replacing urea with NO3 improved the rate of clean wool growth by 37% (P < 0.001, T1 vs T3). Clean wool growth increased by 26% (P < 0.001) when the S content of the NO3-containing diet was increased from 0 to 0.18% (T2 vs T3). Methane production (g/day) and methane yield (g/kg DM intake) were reduced (P < 0.05) by 24% when urea was replaced by NO3 (T1 vs T3). The addition of 0.4% S to a diet containing 1.88% NO3 also reduced methane production (P = 0.021) and methane yield (P = 0.028). In conclusion, the addition of 1.88% NO3 and 0.18% elemental S to a total mixed diet increased clean wool production and reduced methane production. However, there was no evidence of inter-relationships between NO3 and S.
Additional keywords: liveweight gain, feed conversion ratio, wool growth rate.
References
Anderson DL, Henderson LJ (1986) Sealed chamber digestion for plant nutrient analyses. Agronomy Journal 78, 937–939.| Sealed chamber digestion for plant nutrient analyses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28XlvVOisrk%3D&md5=4d688a3f5ae17c9fa08a8d2e8b3af00fCAS |
Barnett AJG, Bowman IBR (1957) In vitro studies on the reduction of nitrate by rumen liquor. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 8, 243–248.
| In vitro studies on the reduction of nitrate by rumen liquor.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaG2sXlslKhug%3D%3D&md5=6664fab20701ff9a182634983da980a4CAS |
Bird SH, Hegarty RS, Woodgate R (2008) Persistence of defaunation effects on digestion and methane production in ewes. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 152–155.
| Persistence of defaunation effects on digestion and methane production in ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXovFSg&md5=1a15b468d6411bfc286eb6ce48c1126bCAS |
Butler GW (1959) The chemical composition of rapidly growing ryegrass and its relation to animal production. In ‘Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. Vol. 19’. pp. 99–110. (New Zealand Society of Animal Production: New Zealand)
Cappenberg TE (1975) A study of mixed continuous culture of sulfate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria. Microbial Ecology 2, 60–72.
| A study of mixed continuous culture of sulfate-reducing and methane-producing bacteria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chen XB, Chen YK, Franklin MF, Ørskov ER, Shand WJ (1992) The effect of feed intake and body weight on purine derivative excretion and microbial protein supply in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 70, 1534–1542.
Farra PA, Satter LD (1971) Manipulation of the ruminal fermentation. III. Effect of nitrate on ruminal volatile fatty acid production and milk composition. Journal of Dairy Science 54, 1018–1024.
| Manipulation of the ruminal fermentation. III. Effect of nitrate on ruminal volatile fatty acid production and milk composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE3MXksVKgur4%3D&md5=72214fdd8a021ce865c191178f75b41cCAS |
Forbes JM, Mayes RW (2002) Food choice. In ‘Sheep nutrition’. (Eds M Freer, H Dove) pp. 51–69. (CABI International: Wallingford, UK)
Freer M, Dove H, Nolan JV (2007) Minerals. In ‘Nutrient requirements of domesticated ruminants.’ (Ed. M Freer) pp. 115–172. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)
Goodrich RD, Emerick RJ, Embry LB (1964) Effect of sodium nitrate on the vitamin A nutrition of sheep. Journal of Animal Science 23, 100–104.
Hales JR, Fawcett AA (1993) Wool production and blood supply to skin and other tissues in sheep. Journal of Animal Science 71, 492–498.
Hedderich R, Klimmek O, Kroëger A, Dirmeier R, Keller M, Stetter KO (1998) Anaerobic respiration with elemental sulfur and with disulfides. FEMS Microbiology Reviews 22, 353–381.
| Anaerobic respiration with elemental sulfur and with disulfides.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXksFCqtg%3D%3D&md5=fe12607f5dd45b0881c13d6a667bc1bbCAS |
Hegarty RS, Li L, Miller J, Nolan J, Perdok HB, Leng RA (2013) Growth, efficiency and carcass attributes of feedlot cattle supplemented with calcium nitrate or urea. Animal (In press).
Hegesh E, Gruener N, Cohen S, Bochkovskf R, Shuval HI (1970) A sensitive micromethod for the determination of methaemoglobin in blood. Clinica Chimica Acta 30, 679–682.
| A sensitive micromethod for the determination of methaemoglobin in blood.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE3MXltVCjtA%3D%3D&md5=7b03f5e3b8812a0172ca85fdcc23eda4CAS |
Hinsley AP, Berks BC (2002) Specificity of respiratory pathways involved in the reduction of sulfur compounds by Salmonella enterica. Microbiology 148, 3631–3638.
Hoar DW, Embry LB, King HR, Emerick RJ (1968) Urea-nitrate interrelationships in sheep under feedlot conditions. Journal of Animal Science 27, 557–561.
Hynd PI, Masters DG (2002) Nutrition and wool growth. In ‘Sheep nutrition’. (Eds M Freer, H Dove) pp. 165–187. (CABI International: Wallingford, UK)
IAEA (1997) ‘Estimation of rumen microbial protein production from purine derivatives in urine.’ (INIS Clearinghouse, IAEA: Vienna)
Kung L, Hession AO, Bracht JP (1998) Inhibition of sulfate reduction to sulfide by 9,10-anthraquinone in in vitro ruminal fermentations. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 2251–2256.
| Inhibition of sulfate reduction to sulfide by 9,10-anthraquinone in in vitro ruminal fermentations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXlvVCmtL0%3D&md5=439583f51f0a5039c0861a0e9a1f62abCAS | 9749391PubMed |
Leng RA (2010) Further considerations of the potential of nitrate as a high affinity electron acceptor to lower enteric methane production in ruminants. In ‘International Conference on Livestock, Climate Change and Resource Depletion’. (Eds R Preston and B Ogle) pp. 9–11. (Champasack University: Pakse, Laos)
Li L, Davis J, Nolan J, Hegarty R (2012) An initial investigation on rumen fermentation pattern and methane emission of sheep offered diets containing urea or nitrate as the nitrogen source. Animal Production Science 52, 653–658.
Marais JP (1988) Effect of nitrate and its reduction products on the growth and activity of the rumen microbial population. The British Journal of Nutrition 59, 301–313.
| Effect of nitrate and its reduction products on the growth and activity of the rumen microbial population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXhsV2js7Y%3D&md5=451f9981b6ede0d8cc2fe70aab28fc0fCAS | 3358930PubMed |
Murray PJ, Winslow SG, Rowe JB (1990) Sulphur and flavomycin supplementation of lupin grain for sheep. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia 15, 133–136.
Nolan JV, Hegarty RS, Hegarty J, Godwin IR, Woodgate R (2010) Effects of dietary nitrate on fermentation, methane production and digesta kinetics in sheep. Animal Production Science 50, 801–806.
| Effects of dietary nitrate on fermentation, methane production and digesta kinetics in sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtVyrtbzP&md5=98b463ee65f4ee3b934d724ffe70bc5bCAS |
NRC (1996) ‘Nutrient requirment of beef cattle.’ 7th edn. (National Academy Press: Washington, DC)
Pinder AG, Pittaway E, Morris K, James PE (2009) Nitrite directly vasodilates hypoxic vasculature via nitric oxide-dependent and -independent pathways. British Journal of Pharmacology 157, 1523–1530.
| Nitrite directly vasodilates hypoxic vasculature via nitric oxide-dependent and -independent pathways.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVKmu7jN&md5=7d8f929c19d81fb3e80f2cc95adc6b4bCAS | 19594749PubMed |
Rammell CG, Hill JH (1986) A review of thiamine deficiency and its diagnosis, especially in ruminants. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 34, 202–204.
| A review of thiamine deficiency and its diagnosis, especially in ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2MzntlWmug%3D%3D&md5=00d8f8c30083309b6fe02e74da76eeaaCAS | 16031240PubMed |
Sakai K, Hirooka YM, Matsuo I, Eshima K, Shigematsu H, Shimokawa H, Takeshita A (2000) Overexpression of eNOS in NTS causes hypotension and bradycardia in vivo. Hypertension 36, 1023–1028.
| Overexpression of eNOS in NTS causes hypotension and bradycardia in vivo.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXitlSgtw%3D%3D&md5=4433840eb2539e7e7afbab237a5ae4f2CAS | 11116119PubMed |
Sapiro ML, Hoflund S, Clark R, Quin JI (1949) Studies on the alimentary tract of the merino sheep in South Africa. 16. The fate of nitrate in ruminal ingesta as studied in vitro. The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry 22, 357–372.
Sokolowski JH, Hatfield EE, Garrigus US (1969) Effects of inorganic sulfur on potassium nitrate utilization by lambs. Journal of Animal Science 28, 391–396.
van Zijderveld SM, Gerrits WJJ, Apajalahti JA, Newbold JR, Dijkstra J, Leng RA, Perdok HB (2010) Nitrate and sulfate: Effective alternative hydrogen sinks for mitigation of ruminal methane production in sheep. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 5856–5866.
| Nitrate and sulfate: Effective alternative hydrogen sinks for mitigation of ruminal methane production in sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXjs1Kis7Y%3D&md5=9069c9162e308e3c3e35c77b30054dadCAS | 21094759PubMed |
van Zijderveld SM, Gerrits WJJ, Dijkstra J, Newbold JR, Hulshof RB, Perdok HB (2011) Persistency of methane mitigation by dietary nitrate supplementation in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 4028–4038.
| Persistency of methane mitigation by dietary nitrate supplementation in dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXpsVylur4%3D&md5=e322bf8f027bb23116f2b3cc5472c03fCAS | 21787938PubMed |
Weichenthal BA, Emrry LB, Emerick RJ, Whetzal FW (1963) Influence of sodium nitrate, vitamin A and protein level, on feedlol performance and vitamin A status of fattening cattle. Journal of Animal Science 22, 979–984.
Whatman S, Godwin IR, Nolan JV (2013) Nitrite toxicity in sheep: hypotension or methaemoglobinaemia. In ‘Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition’. (Ed. P Cronje) (University of New England: Armidale, NSW)
