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Australian grown sugarcane derived polyphenol has the potential to reduce enteric methane emission from second cross lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2023

P. Prathap
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
S.S. Chauhan
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
M. Flavel
Affiliation:
TPM Bioactives Division, The Product Makers Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
S. Mitchell
Affiliation:
TPM Bioactives Division, The Product Makers Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
J.J. Cottrell
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
B.J. Leury
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
F.R. Dunshea
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia Faculty of Biological Sciences, The University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Leeds, UK
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Abstract

Type
Abstract
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2023

The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has increased rapidly since the pre-industrial era, and agriculture is one of the largest contributors to global atmospheric methane pool.(Reference Nisbet, Fisher and Lowry1,Reference Bourne, Stock and Steffen2) Australia needs to reduce 50% of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to comply with the Paris agreement.(Reference Bourne, Stock and Steffen2) Therefore, strategies including nutritional interventions to mitigate enteric methane emission from ruminants, are urgently required to achieve this goal. This study investigated the methane mitigation potential of sugarcane-based polyphenol (Polygain™, The Product Makers Australia, Keysborough, Australia). The study was approved by The University of Melbourne Animal Ethics Committee. Twenty-four 7–8 months old Poll Dorset × (Merino × Border Leicester) lambs were randomized to three different dietary treatment groups; control (n = 8), 0.25% polygain (PG0.25; n = 8) and 1% polygain (PG1; n = 8). The standard diet of the lambs contained 25% crushed barley grain, 25% crushed wheat grain, 25% oaten chaff and 25% lucerne chaff. The animals were acclimatized to the control diet and feed additive for 15 days prior to the 16-day supplementation and measurement period. Enteric methane emission was measured using a hooded sniffer system (Guardian NG gas card)(Reference Garnsworthy, Craigon and Hernandez-Medrano3) attached to the feed bins. Body weight (BW) was measured using a walk-over scale on a weekly basis. Daily feed intake was calculated from feed offered and leftover weighing. There was no effect of diet on feed intake (p = 0.08). However, there was significant (p < 0.001) interaction between diet x day. Body weight was increased by dietary PG in a linear manner (p = 0.05). Day (p < 0.001) and the interaction between day and dietary treatment (p < 0.05) also had significant effect on the BW of the lambs with the addition of polygain. Enteric methane production decreased 49.2% in the PG0.25 group, while the PG1 group produced 33.5% less methane compared to the control group (p = 0.005). There was significant (p = 0.002) reduction in methane yield (g CH4/kg DMI) which was reduced by 51.5% and 37.1% in the PG0.25 group and PG1 group, respectively. In conclusion, low dosages of polygain can potentially be used as a feed additive for reducing enteric methane emissions without compromising lamb growth.

References

Nisbet, EG, Fisher, RE, Lowry, D, et al. (2020) Rev Geophys 58 (1), e2019RG000675.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bourne, G, Stock, A, Steffen, W, et al. (2018) Australia's rising greenhouse gas emissions. Potts Point: Climate Council. Available from: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/CC_MVSA0143-Briefing-Paper-Australias-Rising-Emissions_V8-FA_Low-Res_Single-Pages3.pdfGoogle Scholar
Garnsworthy, PC, Craigon, J, Hernandez-Medrano, JH, et al. (2012) J Dairy Sci 95 (6), 31663180.CrossRefGoogle Scholar