Author(s): ANDRADE, W. R.; PERNA JUNIOR, F.; BERTOLONI, A. V.; LELIS, A. L. J.; TRETTEL, M.; OLIVEIRA, P. P. A.; RODRIGUES, P. H. M.

Summary: Rumen fermentation it is one of the contributors to the greenhouse gases emission (GHG) that causes global warming, and due to that reason livestock production is scrutinized and questioned all around the world on how GHG emissions from this subsector can be mitigated. A range of techniques have been studied by animal scientist, at nutritional level, to mitigate methane emission. Nitrate is of them, and it has a double important role on rumen fermentation, acting as a source of non-protein nitrogen, and as an electron sink path that allows the redirection of hydrogen to nitrate reduction, instead of being used in the methanogenesis process, and thus reducing methane emission. The partial results here presented shows that nitrate does not affect forage, supplement, and total dry mater intake, and neither short chain fatty acids production, however, methane emission (g.kg.day-1) and CO2eq emissions per kg. head-1d-1were reduced when nitrate was added in the diet. Thus, nitrate has the ability in changing rumen fermentation, which besides acting as source of non-protein nitrogen, also mitigate anthropic GHG emissions from enteric fermentation.

Publication year: 2022

Types of publication: Book sections

Unit: Embrapa Southeastern Livestock

Keywords: CO2eq emissions, Greenhouse gases emission, Livestock production, Methanogenesis process, Mitigate methane emission, Rumen fermentation, Source of non protein nitrogen