Effects of feeding fresh white clover (Trifolium repens) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) on enteric methane emissions from sheep

摘要: Abstract Enteric CH4 contributes about one third of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions. Measurements from our laboratory using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) technique suggested much lower yields (as g CH4/kg dry matter (DM) intake) sheep fed fresh white clover (Trifolium repens) compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Thus, offers an opportunity to reduce emissions pastoral based ruminant livestock systems if its yield can be confirmed respiration chambers. This study was comprised 2 experiments where good nutritional quality freshly harvested and were 16 in Experiment 1 (8/diet) 32 (16/diet). Intakes 1.6 times metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance (×MEm) 0.8 × MEm 2.0 × MEm (8/diet/feeding level). In both had a 10 d acclimatization their diets measured chambers consecutive days. Methane (g CH4/kg DM 12% (P=0.04) (19.8) (22.5) 1. 2, there no effects forage on at (27.1 25.5, respectively) but, 2.0 × MEm, 7% higher (P=0.05) (23.4) (21.7). Analyses combined data show that overall dietary yield, but increased intakes reduced (P paper is part special issue entitled: Greenhouse Gases Animal Agriculture – Finding Balance Between Food Emissions, Guest Edited by T.A. McAllister, Section Editors: K.A. Beauchemin, X. Hao, S. McGinn Editor Feed Science Technology, P.H. Robinson.