Biomaterial Database

Methane production and energy partition of cattle in the tropics. 1999

M Kurihara, and T Magner, and R A Hunter, and G J McCrabb

CSIRO Tropical Agriculture, Tropical Beef Centre, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

The aim of this experiment was to determine CH4 production and energy partition for a range of diets fed to Bos indicus cattle. Six Brahman cattle were fed on three different diets in a replicated Latin square experiment over three periods. The diets were (1) long-chopped Angleton grass (Dicanthium aristatum) hay ad libitum (DM digestibility (DMD) 41 (SE 2)%; 4 g N/kg), (2) long-chopped Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay ad libitum (DMD 60 (SE 1)%; 14 g N/kg) or (3) 2 kg long-chopped lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay/d plus a high-grain diet (ad libitum) (DMD 70 (SE 1)%; 31 g N/kg). CH4 production was measured using confinement-type respiration chambers. Metabolizable energy intake (MJ/d) of cattle fed on Angleton grass (18.4 (SE 2.0)) was lower (P < 0.01) than that for Rhodes grass (54.9 (SE 2.1)), which was lower (P <0.01) than that for the high-grain diet (76.7 (SE 5.8)). CH4 production (g/d) for cattle fed on Rhodes grass (257 (SE 14)) was higher (P < 0.01) than that for cattle fed on both the high-grain diet (160 (SE 24)) and Angleton grass (113 (SE 16)). CH4 conversion rate (MJ CH4 produced per 100 MJ gross energy intake) was not significantly different between cattle fed on Angleton (10.4 (SE 1.1)) and Rhodes (11.4 (SE 0.3)) grass, but was higher (P < 0.01) than for cattle fed on the high-grain diet (6.7 (SE 0.7)). CH4 production (g/kg live-weight gain) was associated (P < 0.001) with both live-weight gain and feed:gain ratio. We conclude that the relationships between CH4 production, energy utilization and live-weight change of cattle fed on tropical forages differ from those of cattle fed on diets based on temperate forages.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008697	Methane	The simplest saturated hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, flammable gas, slightly soluble in water. It is one of the chief constituents of natural gas and is formed in the decomposition of organic matter. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
D002417	Cattle	Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor.	Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D002523	Edible Grain	SEEDS used as a major nutritional source, most often the grain from the POACEAE family.	Cereals,Cereal Grain,Cereal,Cereal Grains,Edible Grains,Grain, Cereal,Grain, Edible,Grains, Cereal,Grains, Edible
D004734	Energy Metabolism	The chemical reactions involved in the production and utilization of various forms of energy in cells.	Bioenergetics,Energy Expenditure,Bioenergetic,Energy Expenditures,Energy Metabolisms,Expenditure, Energy,Expenditures, Energy,Metabolism, Energy,Metabolisms, Energy
D005260	Female		Females
D006109	Poaceae	A large family of narrow-leaved herbaceous grasses of the order Cyperales, subclass Commelinidae, class Liliopsida (monocotyledons). Food grains (EDIBLE GRAIN) come from members of this family. RHINITIS, ALLERGIC, SEASONAL can be induced by POLLEN of many of the grasses.	Alopecurus,Arundo,Gramineae,Grasses,Imperata,Grass,Imperata cylindrica
D000704	Analysis of Variance	A statistical technique that isolates and assesses the contributions of categorical independent variables to variation in the mean of a continuous dependent variable.	ANOVA,Analysis, Variance,Variance Analysis,Analyses, Variance,Variance Analyses
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000821	Animal Feed	Foodstuff used especially for domestic and laboratory animals, or livestock.	Fodder,Animal Feeds,Feed, Animal,Feeds, Animal,Fodders
D014329	Tropical Climate	A climate which is typical of equatorial and tropical regions, i.e., one with continually high temperatures with considerable precipitation, at least during part of the year. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Climate, Tropical,Climates, Tropical,Tropical Climates