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Brief Summary: Fifty Years of Research on Rumen Methanogenesis: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges for Mitigation

December 15, 2020

Nitrate is a Commonly Used Nitrogen Supplement in Ruminant Diet

In many countries, nitrate is a commonly used nitrogen supplement in ruminant diet, especially for animals fed with low-protein diets. In practice, nitrate can be used in place of urea, with a maximum dose of 2% of dietary DM. It can also be used in blocks for grazing ruminants.

On the other hand, research had showed a methane decrease potential when fed ruminant with nitrate. To figure out its optimal dosage effect on methane mitigation and avoid the potential risks of toxicity to non-adapted individuals and nitrogen excretion increment, C-Lock GreenFeed users conducted a series of excellent research on nitrate. Below is a summary of their research outcomes:

  1. Alemu A.W., A. Romero-Pérez, R.C. Araujo, K.A. Beauchemin. 2019. Effect of Encapsulated Nitrate and Microencapsulated Blend of Essential Oils on Growth Performance and Methane Emissions from Beef Steers Fed Backgrounding Diets. Animals. Vol. 9. Issue 1. View Here
  2. Doreau M., M. Arbre, M. Popova, Y. Rochette, C. Martin. 2018. Linseed plus nitrate in the diet for fattening bulls: Effects on methane emission, animal health and residues in offal. Animal Vol. 12. Issue 3. pp 501-507. View Here
  3. Hegarty R.S., J. Miller, N. Oelbrandt, L. Li, J. P. M. Luijben, D. L. Robinson, J. V. Nolan, H. B. Perdok. 2016. Feed intake, growth, and body and carcass attributes of feedlot steers supplemented with two levels of calcium nitrate or urea. J. of Anim. Sci. Vol. 94. Issue 12. pp 5372-5381. View Here
  4. Meller R.A., B.A. Wenner, J. Ashworth, A.M. Gehman, J. Lakritz, J.L. Firkins. 2019. Potential roles of nitrate and live yeast culture in suppressing methane emission and influencing ruminal fermentation, digestibility, and milk production in lactating Jersey cows. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 102. Issue 7. pp 144-6156. View Here
  5. Popova M., E. McGovern, M. McCabe, C. Martin, M. Doreau, M. Arbre, S. Meale, D. Morgavi, S. Waters. 2017. The Structural and Functional Capacity of Ruminal and Cecal Microbiota in Growing Cattle Was Unaffected by Dietary Supplementation of Linseed Oil and Nitrate. Front. Microbiol. Vol. 8. pp 937. View Here
  6. Doreau M., M. Arbre, Y. Rochette, C. Lascoux, C. Martin. 2016. Effect of linseed plus nitrate on methane emission in bulls, animal health and residues in offal. In: EAAP Book of Abstracts. Vol. 22. Page 460. View Here
  7. Velazco J.I, D. J. Cottle, R. S. Hegarty. 2014. Methane emissions and feeding behavior of feedlot cattle supplemented with nitrate or urea. Animal Production Science 54:1737-1740. View Here
  8. Velazco J.L, G. Bremmer, L. Li, K. Luijben, R.S. Hegarty, H.P. Perdox. 2013. Short-term emission measurements in beef feedlot cattle to demonstrate enteric methane mitigation from dietary nitrate. Adv. Anim. Biosci. Vol. 4. Page 579. View Here