Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages
This study evaluated enteric methane (CH₄) emissions, dry matter intake (DMI), and performance in rearing beef heifers fed either a Guinea-grass-only diet (0WCS) or Guinea grass supplemented with whole cottonseed (WCS) at 0.5% of body weight (BW). Twenty-four Braford heifers were randomly allocated...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/819 |
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| author | Olegario Hernández Agustín López Maria Esperanza Ceron-Cucchi Cham Donald AdégbéÏga Alabi Cecilia Loza Ana Veronica Juárez Sequeira Héctor Miguel Fissolo Elisa Mariana García José Ignacio Gere |
| author_facet | Olegario Hernández Agustín López Maria Esperanza Ceron-Cucchi Cham Donald AdégbéÏga Alabi Cecilia Loza Ana Veronica Juárez Sequeira Héctor Miguel Fissolo Elisa Mariana García José Ignacio Gere |
| author_sort | Olegario Hernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluated enteric methane (CH₄) emissions, dry matter intake (DMI), and performance in rearing beef heifers fed either a Guinea-grass-only diet (0WCS) or Guinea grass supplemented with whole cottonseed (WCS) at 0.5% of body weight (BW). Twenty-four Braford heifers were randomly allocated into four pens (three animals per pen) per treatment over two experimental periods. Methane emissions were measured using the SF₆ tracer technique. Heifers receiving WCS supplementation produced 29% less CH₄ (120.64 vs. 169.54 g/day for 0.5WCS and 0WCS, respectively; <i>p</i> = 0.02) and showed a 22% reduction in CH₄ yield (7.30% vs. 9.41% of gross energy intake; <i>p</i> = 0.02). Methane intensity was 33% lower in supplemented heifers (0.37 vs. 0.55 g CH₄/kg BW; <i>p</i> = 0.01). However, WCS supplementation significantly reduced total DMI and forage DMI (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> < 0.01, respectively). In terms of performance, heifers in the 0.5WCS group gained 0.28 kg/day, while those in the 0WCS group lost 0.10 kg/day. These results indicate that WCS supplementation mitigates CH₄ emissions while improving weight gain in beef heifers fed low-quality forage diets, making it a promising strategy for enhancing the sustainability of beef cattle production systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dbbf2fe2374e4d49b4ad96b731f39f35 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-dbbf2fe2374e4d49b4ad96b731f39f352025-08-20T03:40:43ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-03-0115681910.3390/ani15060819Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality ForagesOlegario Hernández0Agustín López1Maria Esperanza Ceron-Cucchi2Cham Donald AdégbéÏga Alabi3Cecilia Loza4Ana Veronica Juárez Sequeira5Héctor Miguel Fissolo6Elisa Mariana García7José Ignacio Gere8Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santiago del Estero, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Jujuy 850, Santiago del Estero 4200, ArgentinaEstación Experimental Agropecuaria Santiago del Estero, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Jujuy 850, Santiago del Estero 4200, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, ArgentinaLaboratory of Ecology, Health and Animal Production (LESPA), Faculty of Agronomy (FA), University of Parakou (UP), Parakou O1 BP 123, BeninUnidad de Investigación y Desarrollo de las Ingenierías, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Buenos Aires (UTN FRBA), Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires C1179AAQ, ArgentinaFacultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias, Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero, Av. Belgrano (S) 1912, Santiago del Estero 4200, ArgentinaEstación Experimental Agropecuaria Santiago del Estero, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Jujuy 850, Santiago del Estero 4200, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, ArgentinaThis study evaluated enteric methane (CH₄) emissions, dry matter intake (DMI), and performance in rearing beef heifers fed either a Guinea-grass-only diet (0WCS) or Guinea grass supplemented with whole cottonseed (WCS) at 0.5% of body weight (BW). Twenty-four Braford heifers were randomly allocated into four pens (three animals per pen) per treatment over two experimental periods. Methane emissions were measured using the SF₆ tracer technique. Heifers receiving WCS supplementation produced 29% less CH₄ (120.64 vs. 169.54 g/day for 0.5WCS and 0WCS, respectively; <i>p</i> = 0.02) and showed a 22% reduction in CH₄ yield (7.30% vs. 9.41% of gross energy intake; <i>p</i> = 0.02). Methane intensity was 33% lower in supplemented heifers (0.37 vs. 0.55 g CH₄/kg BW; <i>p</i> = 0.01). However, WCS supplementation significantly reduced total DMI and forage DMI (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> < 0.01, respectively). In terms of performance, heifers in the 0.5WCS group gained 0.28 kg/day, while those in the 0WCS group lost 0.10 kg/day. These results indicate that WCS supplementation mitigates CH₄ emissions while improving weight gain in beef heifers fed low-quality forage diets, making it a promising strategy for enhancing the sustainability of beef cattle production systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/819livestock productionbeef cattletropical forageSF6 tracer techniqueby-products |
| spellingShingle | Olegario Hernández Agustín López Maria Esperanza Ceron-Cucchi Cham Donald AdégbéÏga Alabi Cecilia Loza Ana Veronica Juárez Sequeira Héctor Miguel Fissolo Elisa Mariana García José Ignacio Gere Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages Animals livestock production beef cattle tropical forage SF6 tracer technique by-products |
| title | Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages |
| title_full | Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages |
| title_fullStr | Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages |
| title_short | Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages |
| title_sort | whole cottonseed as an effective strategy to mitigate enteric methane emissions in cattle fed low quality forages |
| topic | livestock production beef cattle tropical forage SF6 tracer technique by-products |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/819 |
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