Use of dietary nitrate to increase productivity and reduce methane production of defaunated and faunated lambs consuming protein-deficient chaff
S. H. Nguyen A C D , M. C. Barnett A B and R. S. Hegarty A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
C National Institute of Animal Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam.
D Corresponding author. Email: hnguye46@myune.edu.au
Animal Production Science 56(3) 290-297 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15525
Submitted: 31 August 2015 Accepted: 21 November 2015 Published: 9 February 2016
Abstract
The effects of dietary nitrate supplementation and defaunation on methane (CH4) emission, microbial protein outflow, digesta kinetics and average daily gain were studied in lambs fed chaff containing 4.1% crude protein in dry matter. Twenty ewe lambs were randomly allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment (0% or 3.1% calcium nitrate supplementation and defaunated or faunated protozoal state). Nitrate supplementation increased blood methaemoglobin concentration (P < 0.05), rumen volatile fatty acids, ammonia concentration, dry matter intake, microbial protein outflow, average daily gain, dry matter digestibility, clean wool growth and wool fibre diameter (P < 0.01). Nitrate increased CH4 production (g/day) due to greater dry matter intake, but did not affect CH4 yield (g/kg dry matter intake). Nitrate-supplemented lambs had a shorter total mean retention time of digesta in the gut (P < 0.05). Defaunation reduced CH4 production and CH4 yield by 43% and 47%, but did not cause changes in dry matter intake, microbial protein outflow, average daily gain or clean wool growth. Defaunation decreased total volatile fatty acids and the molar percentage of propionate, but increased the molar percentage of acetate (P < 0.05). Interactions were observed such that combined treatments of defaunation and nitrate supplementation increased blood methaemoglobin (P = 0.04), and decreased CH4 yield (P = 0.01).
Additional keywords: methanogensis, protozoa, sheep.
References
Aharoni Y, Brosh A, Holzer Z (1999) Comparison of models estimating digesta kinetics and fecal output in cattle from fecal concentration of single-dose markers of particles and solutes. Journal of Animal Science 77, 2291–2304.Allison MJ, Reddy CA (1984) Adaptations of gastrointestinal bacteria in response to changes in dietary oxalate and nitrate. In ‘Current perspectives in microbial ecology. Proceedings of the 3rd international symposium on microbial ecology’. (Eds MJ Klug, CA Reddy) pp. 248–256. (American Society for Microbiology: Washington, DC)
Barnett MC, Forster NA, Guppy CN, Hegarty RS (2013) The use of portable X-ray fluorescence for estimating cobalt and chromium faecal marker concentration in sheep. In ‘Recent advances in animal nutrition-Australia’. (Ed. PB Cronje) pp. 15. (Animal Science, School of Enviromental and Rural Science, University of New England: Armidale, NSW)
Bird SH (1982) Studies on the relationship between rumen protozoa and production in sheep and cattle. PhD Thesis, University of New England, Armidale, Australia.
Bird SG, Leng RA (1978) The effects of defaunation of the rumen on the growth of cattle on low-protein high-energy diets. British Journal of Nutrition 40, 163–167.
| The effects of defaunation of the rumen on the growth of cattle on low-protein high-energy diets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE1cXlslymt78%3D&md5=54446c054101dba22c15b8a01eced888CAS |
Bird SH, Hill MK, Leng RA (1979) The effects of defaunation of the rumen on the growth of lambs on low-protein-high-energy diets. British Journal of Nutrition 42, 81–87.
| The effects of defaunation of the rumen on the growth of lambs on low-protein-high-energy diets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE1MXmtV2rtb8%3D&md5=2b752674582f139bac22b5b183ec3ce6CAS | 486396PubMed |
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=48591fb212f6597256158263d123854bCAS |
Bruning-Fann CS, Kaneene JB (1993) The effects of nitrate, nitrite and N-nitroso compounds on animal health. Veterinary and Human Toxicology 35, 237–253.
Chen XB, Chen YK, Franklin MF, Orskov 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.
CSIRO (2007) ‘Nutrient requirements of domesticated ruminants.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
De Barbieri I, Hegarty RS, Oddy VH, Barnett MC, Li L, Nolan JV (2014) Sheep of divergent genetic merit for wool growth do not differ in digesta kinetics while on restricted intakes. Animal Production Science 54, 1243–1247.
| Sheep of divergent genetic merit for wool growth do not differ in digesta kinetics while on restricted intakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhtlaktLrF&md5=dbb54aed404706244b5f31caa0e11fdaCAS |
de Raphélis-Soissan V, Li L, Godwin IR, Barnett MC, Perdok HB, Hegarty RS (2014) Use of nitrate and Propionibacterium acidipropionici to reduce methane emissions and increase wool growth of Merino sheep. Animal Production Science 54, 1860–1866.
| Use of nitrate and Propionibacterium acidipropionici to reduce methane emissions and increase wool growth of Merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dehority BA (1984) Evaluation of subsampling and fixation procedure used for counting rumen protozoa. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 48, 182–185.
Eugène M, Archimède H, Sauvant D (2004) Quantitative meta-analysis on the effects of defaunation of the rumen on growth, intake and digestion in ruminants. Livestock Production Science 85, 81–97.
| Quantitative meta-analysis on the effects of defaunation of the rumen on growth, intake and digestion in ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Finlay BJ, Esteban G, Clarke KJ, Williams AG, Embley TM, Hirt RP (1994) Some rumen ciliates have endosymbiotic methanogens. FEMS Microbiology Letters 117, 157–161.
| Some rumen ciliates have endosymbiotic methanogens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2c3jslCnug%3D%3D&md5=1b5b55b416121bc2c6b4894b4b662e21CAS | 8181718PubMed |
Fonty G, Joblin K, Chavarot M, Roux R, Naylor G, Michallon F (2007) Establishment and development of ruminal hydrogenotrophs in methanogen-free lambs. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73, 6391–6403.
| Establishment and development of ruminal hydrogenotrophs in methanogen-free lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXht1ektLrK&md5=9c3643551b6273c1480d1c50893c01edCAS | 17675444PubMed |
Guo WS, Schaefer DM, Guo XX, Ren LP, Meng QX (2009) Use of nitrate-nitrogen as a sole dietary nitrogen source to inhibit ruminal methanogenesis and to improve microbial nitrogen synthesis in vitro. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 22, 542–549.
| Use of nitrate-nitrogen as a sole dietary nitrogen source to inhibit ruminal methanogenesis and to improve microbial nitrogen synthesis in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXlsVeitLw%3D&md5=8149ab644f49c3bc7017be10322a9eb1CAS |
Hegarty RS (1999) Reducing rumen methane emissions through elimination of rumen protozoa. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 1321–1327.
| Reducing rumen methane emissions through elimination of rumen protozoa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hegarty RS, Bird SH, Vanselow BA, Woodgate R (2008) Effects of the absence of protozoa from birth or from weaning on the growth and methane production of lambs. British Journal of Nutrition 100, 1220–1227.
| Effects of the absence of protozoa from birth or from weaning on the growth and methane production of lambs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhsV2lsr3L&md5=021f6fb2c9f06581c72b89fc9dcf2ca5CAS | 18479584PubMed |
International Atomic Energy Agency (1997) Estimation of rumen microbial protein production from purine derivatives in urine. (INIS Clearinghouse, IAEA: Vienna, Austria) Available at http://www.iaea.org/inis/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/28/054/28054968.pdf [Verified 1 May 2013]
Joblin KN (1999) Ruminal acetogens and their potential to lower ruminant methane emissions. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 1307–1314.
| Ruminal acetogens and their potential to lower ruminant methane emissions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jouany JP (1996) Effect of rumen protozoa on nitrogen utilization by ruminants. The Journal of Nutrition 126, 1335S–1346S.
Jouany JP, Demeyer DI, Grain J (1988) Effect of defaunating the rumen. Animal Feed Science and Technology 21, 229–265.
| Effect of defaunating the rumen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kreuzer M, Kirchgessner M, Müller HL (1986) Effect of defaunation on the loss of energy in wethers fed different quantities of cellulose and normal or steamflaked maize starch. Animal Feed Science and Technology 16, 233–241.
| Effect of defaunation on the loss of energy in wethers fed different quantities of cellulose and normal or steamflaked maize starch.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lee C, Beauchemin KA (2014) A review of feeding supplementary nitrate to ruminant animals: nitrate toxicity, methane emissions, and production performance. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 94, 557–570.
| A review of feeding supplementary nitrate to ruminant animals: nitrate toxicity, methane emissions, and production performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXhsFejurzO&md5=3696d3a57a1a78e6d8eab852a50f808aCAS |
Leng RA (1990) Factors affecting the utilization of ‘poor-quality’ forages by ruminants particularly under tropical conditions. Nutrition Research Reviews 3, 277–303.
| Factors affecting the utilization of ‘poor-quality’ forages by ruminants particularly under tropical conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1M%2FktVSgsw%3D%3D&md5=f20c638a3a139d3d225a048bc276bfbbCAS | 19094342PubMed |
Leng RA, Preston TR (2010) Further considerations of the potential of nitrate as a high affinity electron acceptor to lower enteric methane production in ruminants. Livestock Research for Rural Development 22, 221
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.
| An initial investigation on rumen fermentation pattern and methane emission of sheep offered diets containing urea or nitrate as the nitrogen source.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XnvVOhsbw%3D&md5=ebbbdcf285e4b093f9826a23f36d97e1CAS |
Lin M, Schaefer DM, Guo WS, Ren LP, Meng QX (2011) Comparisons of in vitro nitrate reduction, methanogenesis, and fermentation acid profile among rumen bacterial, protozoal and fungal fractions. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 24, 471–478.
| Comparisons of in vitro nitrate reduction, methanogenesis, and fermentation acid profile among rumen bacterial, protozoal and fungal fractions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXlvFWlur4%3D&md5=ffdbc52a2940a5182207a22a4cc0fccfCAS |
Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E, Gladwin MT (2008) The nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeutics. Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery 7, 156–167.
| The nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeutics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhs1Khsrw%3D&md5=654bf49a65046cb2e573a3b8e6ee9d1fCAS | 18167491PubMed |
Morgavi DP, Jouany J-P, Martin C (2008) Changes in methane emission and rumen fermentation parameters induced by refaunation in sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 69–72.
| Changes in methane emission and rumen fermentation parameters induced by refaunation in sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXovVKr&md5=fdacdf19338604590b5293e3b4b60bc7CAS |
Morgavi DP, Martin C, Jouany JP, Ranilla M (2012) Rumen protozoa and methanogenesis: not a simple cause-effect relationship. British Journal of Nutrition 107, 388–397.
| Rumen protozoa and methanogenesis: not a simple cause-effect relationship.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhtlKqurk%3D&md5=6764616b62e00e2176ce836df7d24ab0CAS | 21762544PubMed |
Nakamura Y, Yoshida J (1991) Effects of protozoa on nitrate metabolism in the rumen and methemoglobin formation in the blood of sheep Animal Science and Technology (Japan) 62, 1165–1170. [Abstract]
Nolan JV (1999) Stoichiometry of rumen fermentation and gas production. In ‘Meeting the Kyoto target. Implications for the Australian livestock industries’. (Eds PJ Reyenga, SM Howden) pp. 32–40. (Bureau of Rural Sciences: Canberra)
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=c4b3aedbbbfca9ab9c48f4b4570cd5d9CAS |
Preston TR (1995) ‘Tropical animal feeding. A manual for research workers.’ (FAO Animal Production and Health: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome)
Santra A, Karim SA, Chaturvedi OH (2007) Rumen enzyme profile and fermentation characteristics in sheep as affected by treatment with sodium lauryl sulfate as defaunating agent and presence of ciliate protozoa. Small Ruminant Research 67, 126–137.
| Rumen enzyme profile and fermentation characteristics in sheep as affected by treatment with sodium lauryl sulfate as defaunating agent and presence of ciliate protozoa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Satter LD, Slyter LL (1974) Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro. British Journal of Nutrition 32, 199–207.
| Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE2cXltFOjsrk%3D&md5=bea696da1efe14d920c25b18bb6b8f57CAS | 4472574PubMed |
SheepExplorer (2003) SheepExplore spreadsheet of CSIRO GrazPlan. Available at http://www.grazplan.csiro.au/?q=node/15 [Verified 3 April 2013]
Udén P, Colucci PE, Van Soest PJ (1980) Investigation of chromium, cerium and cobalt as markers in digesta. Rate of passage studies. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 31, 625–632.
| Investigation of chromium, cerium and cobalt as markers in digesta. Rate of passage studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 6779056PubMed |
Ungerfeld EM (2013) A theoretical comparison between two ruminal electron sinks. Frontiers in Microbiology 4, 319–334.
| A theoretical comparison between two ruminal electron sinks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24198813PubMed |
Ungerfeld E, Kohn R (2006) The role of thermodynamics in the control of ruminal fermentation. In ‘Ruminant physiology’. (Eds K Sejrsen, T Hvelplund, MO Nielsen) pp. 55–85. (Wageningen Academic Publisher: Wageningen, The Netherlands)
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=c84de18e60e1d808cc7a5d43ed5f5cd6CAS | 21094759PubMed |
van Zijderveld SM, Gerrits WJJ, Dijkstra J, Newbold JR, Hulshof RBA, 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=4b50ef913e6ff901e51ebf368f5f53b0CAS | 21787938PubMed |
