Nitroethanol in Comparison with Monensin Exhibits Greater Feed Efficiency Through Inhibiting Rumen Methanogenesis More Efficiently and Persistently in Feedlotting Lambs

Abstract

Simple SummaryThis study aimed to determine dietary supplemental effects of nitroethanol (NEOH) in comparison with monensin on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation characteristics and methane production in feedlotting lambs. The dietary addition of NEOH in comparison with monensin presented a greater promoting effect on growth performance in feedlotting lambs by inhibiting methanogenesis more efficiently and persistently in the rumen. Although dietary NEOH or monensin addition did not affect nutrient digestibility in the whole digestion tract, they presented a distinct action mode of regulating ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and methane production.AbstractThis study was conducted to determine the dietary supplemental effects of nitroethanol (NEOH) in comparison with monensin on growth performance and estimated methane (CH4) production in feedlotting lambs. Sixty male, small-tailed Chinese Han lambs were arranged at random into three dietary treatment groups: (1) a basal control diet (CTR), (2) the basal diet added with 40 mg/kg monensin (MON), (3) the basal diet added with 277 mg/kg nitroethanol (NEOH). During the 32-day lamb feeding, monensin and nitroethanol were added in period 1 (day 0–16) and then withdrawn in the subsequent period 2 (day 17–32) to determine their withdrawal effects. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate in the whole period ranked: NEOH > MON > CTR (p < 0.01), suggesting that the dietary addition of NEOH in comparison with monensin presented a more lasting beneficial effect on feed efficiency. Methane emission was estimated with rumen VFA production and gross energy intake. Both monensin and NEOH addition in comparison with the control remarkably decreased CH4 emission estimate (24.0% vs. 26.4% decrease; p < 0.01) as well as CH4 emission per kg ADG (8.7% vs. 14.0% decrease; p < 0.01), but the NEOH group presented obvious lasting methanogenesis inhibition when they were withdrawn in period 2. Moreover, the in vitro methanogenic activity of rumen fluids was also decreased with monensin or NEOH addition (12.7% vs. 30.5% decrease; p < 0.01). In summary, the dietary addition of NEOH in comparison with monensin presented a greater promoting effect on growth performance in feedlotting lambs by inhibiting rumen methanogenesis more efficiently and persistently.

The Dietary Supplemental Effect of Nitroethanol in Comparison with Monensin on Methane Emission, Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics in Female Lambs

“…Although NEOH is considered an efficient ruminal CH 4 inhibitor in vitro [ 29 , 30 ], little information is available regarding its nutritive and feeding value as livestock feed. Only in a recent study of Zhang et al [ 18 ], the supplementation of NEOH had no adverse influence on the apparent digestibility of nutrient. The DMI was decreased with monensin addition in the current study.…”

“…Dietary monensin addition often has an ability to decrease rumen motility and dilution rate of digestion of nutrients, resulting in an increase of ruminal fill and consequently a reduction of DMI. Dietary supplementation of NEOH has recently been discovered to have a negative effect on DMI in fattening lambs [ 18 ]. Furthermore, in agreement with this study, the DMI was similarly decreased with NEOH addition in the present study.…”

“…Anderson et al [ 14 ] and Zhang et al [ 41 ] reported that nitroethane and 2-nitroethanol were nearly equally effective in inhibiting ruminal in vitro CH 4 production (up to 90% with 10 mM). However, in a recent study of Zhang et al, the CH 4 production was reduced by up to 30% with NEOH addition in feedlotting lambs [ 18 ]. The antimethanogenic mechanism of NEOH in ruminants remains inconclusive, and further studies are needed to more fully elucidate the mode of action and toxicity of NEOH.…”

“…Although some investigations have suggested that nitrocompounds such as nitroethane, 2-nitroethanol and 2-nitro-1-propanol do not have negative effects on ruminal fermentation or animal performance and the responses may differ depending on gender. In fact, a recent work by Zhang et al compared the dietary addition effect of monensin and NEOH on ruminal methanogenesis and growth performance of male lambs [ 18 ], the latter one led to a greater improvement in ADG and FCR due to the lower CH 4 production, but it is not clear if such a response could also occur in female lambs.…”

Roles of Nitrocompounds in Inhibition of Foodborne Bacteria, Parasites, and Methane Production in Economic Animals

“…Interestingly, nitrocompounds act like monensin, in terms of both inhibiting methane production and suppressing parasite colonization in ruminants and chickens [ 23 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Teng et al [ 32 ] demonstrated that 0.5 mg/mL of monensin and 0.5 mM 2NPOH and 2NEOH significantly inhibited development of sporozoites in the Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells.…”