Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages
This study evaluated enteric methane (CH₄) emissions, dry matter intake (DMI), and performance in rearing beef heifers fed either a Guinea-grass-only diet (0WCS) or Guinea grass supplemented with whole cottonseed (WCS) at 0.5% of body weight (BW). Twenty-four Braford heifers were randomly allocated...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/819 |
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| Summary: | This study evaluated enteric methane (CH₄) emissions, dry matter intake (DMI), and performance in rearing beef heifers fed either a Guinea-grass-only diet (0WCS) or Guinea grass supplemented with whole cottonseed (WCS) at 0.5% of body weight (BW). Twenty-four Braford heifers were randomly allocated into four pens (three animals per pen) per treatment over two experimental periods. Methane emissions were measured using the SF₆ tracer technique. Heifers receiving WCS supplementation produced 29% less CH₄ (120.64 vs. 169.54 g/day for 0.5WCS and 0WCS, respectively; <i>p</i> = 0.02) and showed a 22% reduction in CH₄ yield (7.30% vs. 9.41% of gross energy intake; <i>p</i> = 0.02). Methane intensity was 33% lower in supplemented heifers (0.37 vs. 0.55 g CH₄/kg BW; <i>p</i> = 0.01). However, WCS supplementation significantly reduced total DMI and forage DMI (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> < 0.01, respectively). In terms of performance, heifers in the 0.5WCS group gained 0.28 kg/day, while those in the 0WCS group lost 0.10 kg/day. These results indicate that WCS supplementation mitigates CH₄ emissions while improving weight gain in beef heifers fed low-quality forage diets, making it a promising strategy for enhancing the sustainability of beef cattle production systems. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-2615 |