Supplementing grazing cattle with mineral and AT for methane reduction
Description
This data is from a study evaluating the effect of Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT) with mineral supplementation provided to 112 weaned steers over 157 days grazing on annual rangeland. Supplementing cattle with red seaweed (AT) demonstrates up to 90% methane reduction in controlled feeding studies; however, methods for delivery of AT in grazing systems remain unexplored. Cattle were randomly assigned to access mineral with freeze-dried AT (targeting 150 mg bromoform/head/day) or mineral without AT. Methane emissions were measured using laser methane detection (LMD). Peak methane emission (ppm) on a subset of cattle was recorded during a 4-minute measurement period. Body weight (n=112), mineral consumption (by treatment group n=2), and blood selenium levels (subset n=26) were measured. Average daily mineral consumption was lower than targeted resulting in suboptimal bromoform intake (89.2. mg/head/day). No significant differences were observed between treatments for mineral consumption, weight gain or blood selenium levels. Cattle with access to mineral with AT had lower emissions (45%) than control cattle at day 25, but no differences in emissions were measured at day 115 or day 157. The lack of methane reduction was attributed to insufficient bromoform dosing with low mineral consumption, potential compound volatilization during field storage, and limitations of laser methane detection.
Files
Institutions
- University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- University of California Davis