Effect of engineered biocarbon on rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and methane production in an artificial rumen (RUSITEC) fed a high forage diet1. (14th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saleem, Atef M; Ribeiro, Gabriel O; Yang, Wenzhu Z; Ran, Tao; Beauchemin, Karen A; McGeough, Emma J; Ominski, Kim H; Okine, Erasmus K; McAllister, Tim A
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science. Volume 96:Number 8(2018)
• Page Start: 3121
• Page End: 3130
• Publication Date: 2018-06-14
• Subjects: biocarbon -- biochar -- methane -- rumen fermentation -- RUSITEC; Livestock -- Periodicals; Livestock; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky204
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8812

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding engineered biocarbon to a high-forage diet on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestion, and enteric methane (CH 4 ) production in a semi-continuous culture artificial rumen system (RUSITEC ). The experiment was a completely randomized block design with four treatments assigned to sixteen fermentation vessels (four/treatment) in two RUSITEC apparatuses. The basal diet consisted of 60% barley silage, 27% barley grain, 10% canola meal, and 3% supplement (DM basis) with biocarbon added at 0, 0.5, 1, and 2% of substrate DM. The study period was 17 d, with a 10-d adaptation and 7-d sample collection period. Increasing biocarbon linearly increased ( P < 0.05) disappearance of DM, OM, CP, ADF and NDF. Compared to control, increasing biocarbon enhanced ( P < 0.01) production of total VFA, acetate, propionate, branch-chained VFAs, and tended to increase ( P = 0.06) NH3 -N. Microbial protein synthesis linearly increased ( P = 0.01) with increasing biocarbon. Addition of biocarbon reduced overall CH4 production compared with the control ( P ≤ 0.05). There were no differences ( P > 0.05) in production of total gas, large or small peptides, or in the number of protozoa as a result of addition of biocarbon to the diet. Addition of biocarbon to a forage diet increased DM digestibility by up to 2%, while lowering enteric CH4 production and enhancing microbial protein synthesis in in vitro semi- continuous culture fermenters.