Article 2022 · 4 citations

Influence of nitrate supplementation on <i>in-vitro</i> methane emission, milk production, ruminal fermentation, and microbial methanotrophs in dairy cows fed at two forage levels

Sharifi, Majid, Taghizadeh, Akbar, Hosseinkhani, Ali, Palangi, Valiollah, Macit, Muhlis, Salem, Abdelfattah Z. M., Elghndour, Mona M. M. Y., Abachi, Soheila

Abstract

Modifying the chemical composition of a diet can be a good strategy for reducing methane emission in the rumen. However, this strategy can have adverse effects on the ruminal microbial flora. The aim of our study was to reduce methane without disturbing ruminal function by stimulating the growth and propagation of methanotrophs. In this study, we randomly divided twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows into 4 groups in a 2x2 factorial design with two forage levels (40% and 60%) and two nitrate supplementation levels (3.5% and zero). We examined the effect of experimental diets on cow performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites and changes of ruminal microbial flora throughout the experimental period (45-day). Additionally, in vitro methane emission was evaluated. Animals fed diet with 60% forage had greater dry matter intake (DMI) and milk fat content, but lower lactose and milk urea content compared with those fed 40% forage diet. Moreover, nitrate supplementation had no significant effect on DMI and milk yield. Furthermore, the interactions showed that nitrate reduces DMI and milk fat independently of forage levels. Our findings showed that nitrate can increase ammonia concentration, pH, nitrite, and acetate while reducing the total volatile fatty acids concentration, propionate, and butyrate in the rumen. With increasing nitrate, methane emission was considerably decreased possibly due to the stimulated growth of Fibrobacteria, Proteobacteria, type II Methanotrophs, and Methanoperedense nitroreducens, especially with high forage level. Overall, nitrate supplementation could potentially increase methane oxidizing microorganisms without adversely affecting cattle performance.

Keywords

dairy cows forage methanotrophs microbiota milk yield nitrate ruminal fermentation REAL-TIME PCR RUMEN FERMENTATION GAS-PRODUCTION METHANOGENESIS MITIGATION BUFFALO DIETS QUANTIFICATION DIGESTIBILITY PERFORMANCE

WoS Categories

Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Action

Citation

Journal: ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
Year: 2022
Volume: 22
Issue: 3
Pages: 1015-1026
ISSN: 1642-3402
eISSN: 2300-8733
DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2021-0087
WoS UID: WOS:000733950700008

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