Effect of the grass and legume intercropping on short chain fatty acids and methane production in cattle

• Grant number: 20/11833-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2021
• End date: December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Gerdes
• Grantee: Thaís Sorsato Galvin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Zootecnia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Nova Odessa , 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

Ruminants can directly contribute to increasing the concentration of atmospheric CH4 through enteric fermentation and fermentation of organic residues, resulting not only in environmental problems, but also in factors related to the loss of efficiency in animal productivity. The use of more efficient systems, such as the consortium, has been used to manipulate ruminal fermentation and reduce the production of enteric methane. The objective of this work will be to evaluate the effects of the consortium between the legume (Macrotyloma axillare) and the grass (Brachiaria brizantha) on short chain fatty acids (AGCC) and the production of enteric methane using the ex situ rumen fermentation technique. The experiment will be carried out in the experimental area of the Animal Science Institute of Nova Odessa (SP). Eight Jersey cows (372.83 ± 44.62 kg) (four with ruminal cannulas) will be used in a randomized complete block design. The trial period will last for one year, with data collection for twenty-five days within each season of the year (spring, summer, autumn and winter in Brazil), divided into: 14 days of adaptation to the systems; 10 days of consumption measurement and 1 day of ex situ collection. The treatments will consist of grazing systems: exclusive grazing of grasses without supplementation (G) and consortium of legumes Pasture (Macrotyloma axillare), Gram + Protein (G + P); gram (Brachiaria brizantha) (L + G).