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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 48(2)

Persistence of defaunation effects on digestion and methane production in ewes

S. H. Bird A B , R. S. Hegarty A and R. Woodgate A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beef Industry Centre, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: simon.bird@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(2) 152-155 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA07298
Submitted: 24 August 2007  Accepted: 18 October 2007   Published: 2 January 2008

Abstract

The effect of defaunation on feed digestion and on methane production of ewes was determined 10 and 25 weeks after defaunation. When fed a lucerne diet (800 g/day), the absence of protozoa did not change the apparent digestibility of dry matter, excretion of macro-minerals, or methane production 10 or 25 weeks post-treatment. Defaunation did, however, increase microbial protein flow by 22% (estimated from allantoin excretion) and the molar proportions of acetate and butyrate in the rumen, while decreasing excretion of copper and manganese. The fermentation data contrasts with previous studies that found defaunation reduced methanogenesis and rumen acetate proportions, but supports the hypothesis that a reduction in rumen acetate percentage is required to achieve reduced methanogenesis through defaunation.

Additional keyword: greenhouse gas.


Acknowledgements

Financial support of the Australian Greenhouse Office and NSW Department of Primary Industries for this research is acknowledged. The assistance of Stuart McClelland and Bill Johns in management and sampling of sheep is also acknowledged with thanks.


References


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