Pigeon Pea Intercropped with Tropical Pasture as a Mitigation Strategy for Enteric Methane Emissions of Nellore Steers

Abstract

In this study, we evaluate the effects of intercropping pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) with tropical pastures for feeding Nellore cattle and compared animal performance and enteric CH4 emissions with other pasture-based systems during the dry and rainy seasons of 2021. Thirty-six Nellore steers (with a body weight of 221 ± 7 kg and an age of 15–16 months) were randomly distributed in three treatments with three replicates (in paddocks of 1.5 hectares each): (1) a degraded pasture of Urochloa spp. (DEG); (2) a recovered and fertilized pasture of Urochloa spp. (REC); and (3) pigeon pea intercropped with Urochloa spp. (MIX). Enteric CH4 emissions were estimated using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer gas technique, and dry matter intake (DMI) was determined using internal (iNDF) and external (TiO2) markers. Forages were collected by hand plucking after observations of ingestive behavior, and feces was collected after voluntary defecation. The proportion of grass and legume intake was estimated by C stable isotopes, and the forage nutritional quality was determined, while animal performance was monitored monthly, and the stocking rate was adjusted by the “put and take” technique. The results indicated that intercropping pigeon pea with tropical grasses is an interesting strategy for sustainable livestock production based on pastures. The MIX treatment was able to meet the nutritional requirements of the animals, which presented higher performance. In addition, there was a reduction in CH4 emissions up to 70% when expressed per average daily weight gain in comparison to the DEG treatment.

Optimizing grassland productivity and sustainability: effects of a legume or N fertiliser application on N cycling

“…In addition to a notable improvement in the nutritive value of the diet of the animals, and consequently, an increase in animal weight gain (Pereira et al 2020;Homem et al 2021a;dos Santos et al 2023), secondary metabolites present in the legumes, such as saponins and tannins, can reduce the amount of N excreted in the urine, and consequently, reducing the nitrous oxide emissions (N2O) from excreta (Mueller-Harvey et al 2019). The presence of these secondary metabolites may also lead to reductions in the emissions of enteric methane (Furtado et al 2023;Homem et al 2024).…”

The Inclusion of Pigeon Pea Hay Improves the Quality of Giant Cactus Harvested at Different Times

“…Pigeon pea is a legume with a production of 12 tons/ha/year in the dry season of the year and CP contents that vary from 16 to 20%, thus showing great forage potential for ruminant feeding [17]. This forage is adapted to semi-arid climates, which favors its alternative production and storage potential as hay due to its DM (88.8-91.8% DM), CP (12.2-16.7% DM) and NDF (78.6% DM) content [18].…”