By Dr. David F. Jones, Ph.D., P.A.S.
Methane production from ruminant animals has received a lot of attention in recent years and is still a primary focus today. Since methane is a waste product from rumen fermentation, it is possible to minimize the process of methane production with nutrition and products that promote greater efficiency in rumen fermentation. For this article, it is important to understand that methane is based on carbon and hydrogen (methane = CH4).
Methane, like carbon dioxide, is a greenhouse gas. It is the more potent greenhouse gas of the two, but its lifespan in the atmosphere is relatively short-lived at about 10 years. Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, remains in the atmosphere for approximately 1,000 years.
The carbon in methane (generated in the rumen) is part of the biogenic carbon cycle (Figure 1).
There are several processes in the rumen that utilize hydrogen, making it unavailable for the production of methane. These processes include:
All three of these processes conserve or use hydrogen (hydrogen sinks) to promote the intended end product, thus keeping the hydrogen from methane synthesis:
All of these end-products (propionic acid, stearic acid, and ammonia) can be utilized by the rumen environment/cow instead of being eliminated as waste like methane.
Agri-King products like Zym-O-Factors®, Zy-Mend®, and Maximizer® contain amylase, which improves starch availability in the rumen, improving the fermentation of glucose (contained in the starch molecule) and leading to propionic acid production. Ru-Mend®/Ru-Max®, Zy-Mend®, and Maximizer® all contain cellulase, which improves the digestion of cellulose from fiber in the feed reducing the work required by cellulolytic bacteria. This makes fiber fermentation more efficient and increases acetic acid in the rumen (used for energy, synthesis of fatty acids, etc.). These enzyme-based products improve rumen fermentation efficiency, allowing for decreased dry matter intake (DMI) and a reduction in methane production.
Micro XX® is a non-enzyme based product that assists rumen bacteria in allowing them to more efficiently convert nitrates to ammonia. The resulting ammonia can be used as a nitrogen source by cellulolytic bacteria so they can grow and more efficiently ferment fiber. Recent research has demonstrated an increase in rumen microbial nitrogen when nitrates (sodium nitrate) were fed in a low-crude protein diet (Wang et al., 2018). When the rumen microbes grow more efficiently, the process of biohydrogenation to saturate fatty acids will improve. As mentioned previously, both of these processes use hydrogen that otherwise might be used for the synthesis of methane.
The products listed above (Ru-Mend®, Ru-Max®, Zy-Mend®, Zym-O-Factors®, Maximiser®, Micro XX®) support efficient rumen fermentation of feed, allowing the cows to obtain more energy from less feed (reduced DMI) to optimize milk production (improved feed efficiency). Along with these products, Agri-King promotes forage quality with Silo-King® and precision ration formulation by using the analysis of homegrown feeds to optimize other ingredients required to balance a ration for improved feed efficiency. An efficient cow will produce more milk on less DMI. It is important to note, in the May 2010 issue of The Agri-King Advantage, it is described how efficient cows also have reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
Some of the highlights from that article are:
Contact your local Agri-King representative on how we can help your herd efficiency. AK