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Methane-suppressing effect of myristic acid in sheep as affected by dietary calcium and forage proportion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Andrea Machmüller*
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH Zentrum/LFW, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Carla R. Soliva
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH Zentrum/LFW, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Michael Kreuzer
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH Zentrum/LFW, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Andrea Machmüller, fax +41 1 632 1128, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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The efficiency of myristic acid (14:0) as a feed additive to suppress CH4 emissions of ruminants was evaluated under different dietary conditions. Six sheep were subjected to a 6 × 6 Latin square arrangement. A supplement of non-esterified 14: 0 (50 g/kg DM) was added to two basal diets differing in their forage:concentrate values (1:1/5 and 1: 0/5), which were adjusted to dietary Ca contents of 4/2 and 9/0 g/ kg DM, respectively. Comparisons were made with the unsupplemented basal diets (4/2 g Ca/kg DM). The 14:0 supplementation decreased (P < 0/001) total tract CH4 release depending on basal diet type (interaction, P < 0/001) and dietary Ca level (P < 0/05, post hoc test). In the concentrate-based diet, 14:0 suppressed CH4 emission by 58 and 47% with 4/2 and 9/0 g Ca/kg DM, respectively. The 14:0 effect was lower (22%) in the forage-based diet and became insignificant with additional Ca. Myristic acid inhibited (P < 0/05) rumen archaea without significantly altering proportions of individual methanogen orders. Ciliate protozoa concentration was decreased (P < 0/05, post hoc test) by 14:0 only in combination with 9/0 g Ca/kg DM. Rumen fluid NH3 concentration and acetate:pro-pionate were decreased (P < 0/05) and water consumption was lower (P < 0/01) with 14:0. The use of 14:0 had no clear effects on total tract organic matter and fibre digestion; this further illustrates that the suppressed methanogenesis resulted from direct effects against methanogens. The present study demonstrated that 14:0 is a potent CH4 inhibitor but, to be effective in CH4 mitigation feeding strategies, interactions with other diet ingredients have to be considered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

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