Could the breed composition improve performance and change the enteric methane emissions from beef cattle in a tropical intensive production system?

Abstract

Crossbreeding has been used to improve performance in beef cattle, however the effects of breed composition on methane (CH 4 ) production, yield and intensity from cattle raised in tropical intensive and integrated systems remain unknown. To assess the impact of breed composition on performance and methane emissions, Nellore (NEL; yr 1: BW = 171.5 ± 19.4 kg; n = 10; yr 2: BW = 215.8 ± 32.3 kg, n = 25) and Angus x Nellore crossbred (AN; yr 1: BW = 214.2 ± 26.4 kg, n = 10; yr 2: BW = 242.5 ± 32.2 kg, n = 25) were compared. The animals grazed on integrated crop-livestock system in the growing phase (stocking rate 2452 kg BW/ha, herbage mass 4,884 kg dry matter (DM)/ha, forage allowance 5.9 kg DM/100kg BW) and then were finished in a feedlot. Steers (n = 8) from each breed composition were randomly selected in each phase to measure CH 4 production using a sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) tracer technique and DM intake (DMI) using titanium dioxide. Compared with NEL, AN had both superior total gain and average daily gain (ADG) in the grazing period. The AN presented greater ADG in the feedlot with a shorter finishing period and resulted in greater carcass yield and carcass ADG. Methane production (kg/period) was lower in NEL (19% less) than AN in grazing ( P <0.01), and no difference was observed in feedlot. The NEL had less CH 4 intensity (CH 4 /BW) in grazing but greater CH 4 per unit of ADG in the feedlot compared to AN. Breed composition did not influence the CH 4 yield (CH 4 /DMI) in either phase, despite the difference in feedlot DMI (kg/day). In conclusion, crossbreeding may be an option to improve performance and reduce the CH 4 per ADG in tropical climate conditions, resulting in lower methane emission per kg of meat produced.

Effects of Feeding Level and Breed Composition on Intake, Digestibility, and Methane Emissions of Dairy Heifers

“…In the current study, however, DMI was similar among BCs, independent of performance level. Maciel [28] reported no differences between Nellore and crossbred Nellore × Angus fed at feedlot or pasture on CH 4 yield supporting the findings of the present study, suggesting that BC does not influence CH 4 yield. The nutrient digestibility of a diet might also affect the amount of CH 4 emitted, which is dependent on the plane of nutrition [26].…”

Feed intake, emission of enteric methane and estimates, feed efficiency, and ingestive behavior in buffaloes supplemented with palm kernel cake in the Amazon biome

“…However, the increase in EE intake with the inclusion of PT had a bioactive effect on methanogenic rumen microorganisms, reducing not only the production of enteric methane but also the amount emitted per kilogram of meat produced. This is an important indicator of the efficiency of PT inclusion for the production of more environmentally friendly meat (38,39), and it has been widely studied (40)(41)(42).…”

Practical strategies to mitigate ruminant greenhouse gas emissions

“…For instance, in the Australian Northern Territory, replacing foreign English Shorthorn cattle with a locally adapted breed improved animal productivity, mitigating 43 percent of methane emission per tonne liveweight 30,34 . Similar capital-intensive breeding projects funded by national initiatives are in place in other regions such as Europe and South America 29,[35][36][37] .…”