Measurement of Methane Production from Ruminants

Abstract

On a global scale agriculture and in particular enteric fermentation in ruminants is reported to produce about one fourth (21 to 25%) of the total anthropogenic emissions of methane (CH 4 ). Methane is produced during the anaerobic fermentation of hydrolyzed dietary carbohydrates in the rumen and represents an energy loss to the host besides contributing to emissions of greenhouse gases into the environment. However, there appears to be uncertainty in the CH 4 estimation from livestock due to the limited availability of data to document the variability at the farm level and also due to the significant impact of diet on the enteric CH 4 production. The methane mitigation strategies require robust prediction of emissions from rumen. There are many methods available which would be suitable for measuring CH 4 produced from the various stages of animal production. However, several factors need to be considered in order to select the most appropriate technique like the cost, level of accuracy required and the scale and design of the experiments to be undertaken. Selection of any technique depends on the accuracy as each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Screening of mitigation strategies may be evaluated using individual animal before large-scale trials on groups of animals are carried out. In this review various methods for the estimation of methane production from ruminants as well as for the determination of methane production potential of ruminant feeds are discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods starting from respiration chamber, ventilated hood, facemask, sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) tracer technique, prediction equations and meteorological methods to in vitro methods are detailed.

PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN TANIN DAUN NANGKA (Artocarpus heterophyllus) TERHADAP NILAI BIOLOGIS DAUN KELOR (Moringa oleifera) DAN JERAMI KACANG HIJAU (Vigna radiata) SECARA IN VITRO

“…Penurunan populasi keduanya dapat menurunkan pemakaian gas CO2 yang digunakan sebagai komponen pembentukan gas metana. Bhatta et al (2007) menjelaskan bahwa komponen utama proses metanogenesis pada ruminansia adalah ion hidrogen dan CO2.…”

Review of substances/agents that have direct beneficial effect on the environment: mode of action and assessment of efficacy

“…However, Bhatta et al (2007) compared the various approaches and showed that the RUSITEC semi continuous culture approach gave consistently lower methane data that the SF6 technique regardless of diet. The batch culture approach gave vary variable data compared to SF6 after 24 hrs of incubation but consistently higher after 48 hrs.…”

Agricultural by-Products as Feed for Ruminants in Tropical Area: Nutritive Value and Mitigating Methane Emission

“…Substrates for ruminal methanogenesis are derived from dietary carbohydrates (cellulose, hemi-cellulose, pectin and starch). When these substrates are hydrolyzed, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are produced, which due to metabolism by methanogens yield methane (Bhatta et al, 2007). Maize stover C o m b i n a t i o n o f c e l l u l a s exylanase--D-glucanase 25,600-25,600-0 IU/g C e l l u l a s e -x y l a n a s e --Dglucanase 12,800-12,800-0 IU/g…”

“…As known for many years, fermentation of dietary carbohydrates in the rumen by methanogenic archaea produces methane gas. Methane production tends to increase as the fiber content of feed increases (Kurihara et al, 2007). Type of carbohydrate of agricultural by-product, especially fodder/straw, contains high level of fiber.…”