Cattle Diets Strongly Affect Nitrous Oxide in the Rumen

Katrin Gerlach, Alexander J. Schmithausen, Ansgar C. H. Sommer, Manfred Trimborn, Wolfgang Büscher and Karl-Heinz Südekum
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Katrin Gerlach: Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Alexander J. Schmithausen: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Ansgar C. H. Sommer: Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Manfred Trimborn: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Wolfgang Büscher: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Karl-Heinz Südekum: Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: This study aimed at assigning climate-relevant gaseous emissions from ruminants to animal- or feed-related origin. Three adult rumen-cannulated German Holstein steers and three forage types (corn silage (CS), alfalfa silage (AS) and grass hay (GH)) were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Each period consisted of 12 days (d), during which animals received 10 kg dry matter/day of one forage as sole feed. Gaseous samples from forages and the steers´ rumen were taken and analyzed for CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O using gas chromatography. There were large differences in the amounts of CO 2 and N 2 O emitting from the forage types. Most N 2 O came from AS and only small amounts from GH and CS. Results indicate that fermented forages rich in nitrogen can release climate-relevant N 2 O. The highest CO 2 amounts were measured in CS. Methane was not detected in any forage sample. Animals consuming CS showed slightly lower CH 4 concentrations in the rumen gas sample than animals fed AS or GH. Big differences were found for ruminal N 2 O with the highest concentration after AS ingestion such that the N 2 O measured in the rumen seems to originate from the used feedstuff.

Keywords: cow; greenhouse gas; methane; rumen; silage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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