PRODUCCIÓN DE GAS Y METANO DE SUBPRODUCTOS AGRÍCOLAS EN LA ALIMENTACIÓN DE RUMIANTES

One of the strategies to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the agricultural and livestock production sector is to offer foods that decrease production, and therefore the emissions of these gases by livestock. It is pertinent to understand and take into account the methane production capacity of the ingredients commonly used in ruminant diets, in order to reduce the methanogenic potential. The foods that are used to feed ruminants provide nutrients according to their characteristics which derive into a different proportion of the final fermentation products: hydrogen ions (H2) and methane (CH4). There are several strategies for methane mitigation in ruminants, among them: diet composition, use of lipids, defaunation of ruminal protozoa, methanogenic vaccines, and use of monensin, natural plant compounds and organic acids. In general, acetic fermentation (when adding fibrous ingredients) produces greater amounts of CH4, while grains and protein ingredients promote propionic fermentation (although it will depend on their fiber content), which makes it possible to decrease CH4 production up to 15%.Una de las estrategias para disminuir la emisión de gases efecto invernadero (GEI) en el sector agropecuario sobre todo en rumiantes, es ofrecer alimentos que disminuyan la producción, y por ende las emisiones de estos gases por el ganado. Es pertinente conocer y tomar en cuenta la producción de metano que tienen los ingredientes comúnmente utilizados en la alimentación de rumiantes, para que la energía y proteína que contengan se relacione con el potencial metanogénico. Los alimentos que se utilizan en la alimentación de rumiantes proporcionan nutrientes según sus características que derivan en una diferente proporción de los productos finales de la fermentación (H2 y CH4). Existen diversas estrategias para la mitigación de metano en rumiantes, entre ellas: la composición de la dieta, el uso de lípidos, defaunación de protozoarios ruminales, vacunas metanógenas, el uso de monensina, compuesto naturales de plantas y ácidos orgánicos. En general la fermentación acética (comúnmente generada por ingredientes fibrosos) produce mayores cantidades de CH4 al disponer los metanógenos de más H2, conjugado con el ambiente anaerobio ruminal (CO2), mientras que los granos y los ingredientes proteicos (aunque dependerá de su contenido de fibra) propician una fermentación propionica, disminuyendo según reportes hasta en 15 % la producción de CH4

Evaluation of polyherbal methionine and choline in feedlot rations for lambs

Requirements of lambs for choline and methionine have not been clearly established, but because of their metabolic relationship, the availability of these two nutrients may affect protein synthesis and energy balance. Therefore, a trial was carried out to evaluate the effect on productive performance and blood metabolites of including methionine and choline from polyherbal mixtures in finishing lamb diets. Forty Hampshire x Suffolk lambs weighing 26.9 ± 2.8 kg were used for a 45-day experiment. The treatments were arranged as a 2x2 factorial, in which the factors were dietary supplementation with herbal methionine and choline at two levels (0% and 0.4% of dry matter (DM)). The treatments had no effects on the lambs’ productive variables (daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed to gain ratio), carcass characteristics and lipid metabolites (P >0.05). The results indicated that the inclusion of polyherbal mixtures containing methionine, choline and their combination at 0.4% of DM in finishing lamb diets showed no benefits in productive response or in blood metabolites related to lipid metabolism. Keywords: amino acid, lipid metabolites, productive performance, ruminally protected, vitami

Cuajilote (Parmentiera aculeata (Kunth) Seem.): A Potential Fruit for Ruminant Feed

Objective: carry out a bibliographic review on the investigations carried out with cuajilote fruits (Parmentiera aculeata) for sheep feeding. Design/methodology/approach: a search was carried out in all the permitted information sources (popular articles, conference proceedings, books, etc.) Results: Parmentiera aculeata (chote), usually used to obtain shade, living fences, wood or firewood. However, they can also serve as fodder. Both the foliage and the fruits can have very good nutritional characteristics, it is also a fruit available in the dry season, these fruits are eagerly consumed by cattle that graze freely. However, it is unknown what is the nutritional value and ruminal availability of the dry matter of this fruit in different stages of maturity, to which medicinal properties are also attributed. Limitations on study/implications: the studies that were found were of tests carried out in vitro using this fruit as a defaunant of protozoa in bovine ruminal liquid, therefore, there is little in vivo research on the use of chote in an integral diet for animal feeding and its inclusion maximum tolerant by ruminants. Findings/conclusions: the chote fruit shows great potential for use in animal feed, due to the nutritional and medicinal benefits attributed to it. In addition to the availability of the fruits throughout the year, more specifically, in the dry season, which is when production costs are increased by feeding.Objective: to review previous researches about the use of the fruits of the cuajilote tree (Parmentiera aculeata) as ovine feed. Design/Methodology/Approach: this research was conducted, using all the available sources: science articles, conference reports, and books. Results: P. aculeata (cuajilote) is generally used to provide shade, and as live fence, wood or firewood. However, it can also be used as forage. Both the foliage and the fruit have excellent nutritional qualities; additionally, the fruits are available during the dry season and free grazing cattle avidly eat them. Nevertheless, the nutritional value and the ruminal availability of this fruit’s dry matter—during various ripeness stages— are unknown; it is also said to have medicinal properties. Study Limitations and Implications: the cuajilote fruit was used in in vitro tests to remove protozoa from the ruminal fluid of bovines (defanuation); therefore, there are few in vitro researches about the use of cuajilote in a wholemeal diet as animal feed and about its maximum inclusion tolerance in ruminants. Findings/Conclusions: as a result of its nutritional and medicinal benefits, the cuajilote fruit shows great potential as livestock feed. Additionally, it is available all year round, particularly during the dry season, when production expenses increase as a result of the lack of other food sources

Effect of dried distillers grains (DDGS) on diet digestibility, growth performance, and carcass characteristics in Creole wool lambs fed finishing diets

Dried corn distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) can partially replace grains and forages in diets for ruminants. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of replacing grains and soybean meal with DDGS (0%, 15%, 30% and 45%) in the diet of lambs. Thirty-two native lambs were used (initial bodyweight = 28.6 ± 2.19 kg) in a completely randomized design. Initial body weight was a co-variable, and the means were compared with the Tukey test. The dry matter intake was significantly higher in DDGS containing diet than in the control treatment. The daily weight gain was higher in the diets with 15% of DDGS compared with the control. Dry matter digestibility was lower by 7% with 45% of DDGS. The hot and cold carcass weights were significantly higher by 8% in DDGS treatments compared to the control. The inclusion of increasing levels of DDGS in the diet of fattening lambs increased their dry matter intake, improved carcass weight, and did not adversely affect carcass characteristics.Keywords: Carcass, by-products, animal production, ruminant nutritio