Premium
Decreasing Ruminant Methane Production through 3‐Deoxyproanthocyanidin‐rich Forages
Author(s) -
Sepela Rebecka,
Hagerman Ann
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.887.5
Subject(s) - ruminant , tannin , rumen , methanogenesis , proanthocyanidin , chemistry , condensed tannin , polyphenol , food science , methane , antioxidant , biochemistry , agronomy , biology , organic chemistry , fermentation , crop
Condensed tannins polyphenolic compounds with antioxidative, metal chelating, and protein precipitating activities. Tannins are found in higher plants in the leaves, bark, stem, roots and fruits. Recent research has linked tannin content of forages to ruminant nutrition and productivity including methanogenesis. Ruminant methane production is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas production worldwide, and so we are attempting to elucidate the mechanism of inhibition of ruminant methanogenesis. The structural identity, antioxidative activity, and protein precipitating capabilities of 10 bioactive legumes were characterized to correlate structure or activities with effects on methane production. Monomer identities, stoichiometries, and degree of polymerization were determined using MALDI‐TOF MS, ESI‐MS, and HPLC. Antioxidant activities were determined with the ORAC assay and total phenolics with the Prussian blue assay. The protein precipitating capacities of the purified tannins were determined using bovine serum albumin. There was a strong relationship between tannin structural chemistry and methane abatement, but the in vitro measures of bioactivities were not related to methane production. Tannins with stable, highly branched structures inhibited methane production more effectively than tannins that are more labile. We propose that the more stable 3‐deoxyproanthocyanidins may be more active against rumen methanogens because they have longer lifetimes. Adding forages containing 3‐deoxy proanthocyanidins to ruminant diets may decrease methane production and slow global climate change. This project was supported by a Hughes Fellowship from Miami University and Miami University Dean's Scholars.