Evaluation of forage production, animal performance and mitigation of methane emissions from beef cattle in different pasture systems

• Grant number: 19/11429-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues
• Grantee: Ana Laura Januário Lelis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/20084-5 - Strategic practices for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in grassland systems of the Brazilian Southeast, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

The accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere remains an important topic of scientific and public interest. The increase in these gases has been considered to be a major cause of the global warming. In this context, agribusiness, especially the Brazilian livestock production sector, has been the target of concern. This is because cattle represent 83.9% of all livestock production in Brazil; moreover, the country has the second largest cattle herd in the world. Appropriate agricultural practices can reduce and/or mitigate GHG emissions and improve the sustainability of the cattle industry. The manipulation of ruminal fermentation in the production systems is considered the important strategy to mitigate GHG in Brazil. The methodology trials aims to evaluate: 1) Characterization of pasture productive components; 2) animal performance and dry matter intake; and 3) ruminal methane measurements. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different grazing systems, including ammonium nitrate supplementation, on forage (characterization of forage production and components), animals (performance and dry matter intake) and environment (GHG emissions). In this way, this project will allow to point out which, among the most productive systems available, have the greatest potential to mitigate GHG. The hypothesis is that deferred grazing systems and ammonium nitrate supplementation results in better animal performance and environmental beneficial effects, through reductions in GHG emissions, when expressed per unit of product (meat or milk), or through the land-saving phenomena. (AU)

Academic Publications

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

LELIS, Ana Laura Januário. Evaluation of forage production and performance of Nellore heifers in different grazing methods and supplementation as a strategy to mitigate methane emissions. 2021. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT) Pirassununga.