TANNINIFEROUS LEGUMES AS NUTRITIONAL STRATEGY ON METHANE MITIGATION FROM CATTLE AND THE PLANT-ANIMAL-SOIL INTERFACE

• Grant number: 14/23656-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Ives Cláudio da Silva Bueno
• Grantee: Gisele Maria Fagundes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil occupies a prominent position in the world's beef commerce, rank as the world's largest beef exporter. However, Brazil also stands as one of the major contributors in CH4 emissions by ruminants. Currently, only the category of cattle contributes 96% of methane emissions from enteric fermentation in livestock production; and possibly in the future, such emissions from domestic ruminant livestock will be subject to prohibitions, if the production systems are not included in the measures to reduce greenhouse gases. However, there is a need for further research for alternative feed for reducing methane, without affecting the meat production. In this context, this project aims to identify alternatives such as nutritional strategies to reduce enteric methane production by ruminants. For this, the in vitro methane production will be measured in beef cattle fed legumes rich in condensed tannins (CT), as well as their effects on ruminal microbiota and the subsequent effect of their faeces rich in CT on soil microbial population and dynamics. The results of this project will contribute to the knowledge of nutritional alternatives for reducing methane feasible for the conditions of the tropics and the adoption of our producers, thus ensuring the development of domestic livestock, but without harming the environment.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FAGUNDES, Gisele Maria. Condensed tannins as nutritional strategy on methane mitigation from cattle and the animal-soil interface. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT) Pirassununga.