Open AccessRed seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) supplementation reduces enteric methane by over 80 percent in beef steers
Author(s) -
Breanna M. Roque,
Marielena E. Venegas,
Robert D. Kinley,
Rocky de Nys,
T. L. Duarte,
Xiang Yang,
E. Kebreab
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0247820
Subject(s) - zoology , biology , food science , chemistry
The red macroalgae (seaweed) Asparagopsis spp. has shown to reduce ruminant enteric methane (CH 4 ) production up to 99% in vitro . The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Asparagopsis taxiformis on CH 4 production (g/day per animal), yield (g CH 4 /kg dry matter intake (DMI)), and intensity (g CH 4 /kg ADG); average daily gain (ADG; kg gain/day), feed conversion efficiency (FCE; kg ADG/kg DMI), and carcass and meat quality in growing beef steers. Twenty-one Angus-Hereford beef steers were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups: 0% (Control), 0.25% (Low), and 0.5% (High) A . taxiformis inclusion based on organic matter intake. Steers were fed 3 diets: high, medium, and low forage total mixed ration (TMR) representing life-stage diets of growing beef steers. The Low and High treatments over 147 days reduced enteric CH 4 yield 45 and 68%, respectively. However, there was an interaction between TMR type and the magnitude of CH 4 yield reduction. Supplementing low forage TMR reduced CH 4 yield 69.8% ( P <0.01) for Low and 80% ( P <0.01) for High treatments. Hydrogen (H 2 ) yield (g H 2 /DMI) increased ( P <0.01) 336 and 590% compared to Control for the Low and High treatments, respectively. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) yield (g CO 2 /DMI) increased 13.7% between Control and High treatments (P = 0.03). No differences were found in ADG, carcass quality, strip loin proximate analysis and shear force, or consumer taste preferences. DMI tended to decrease 8% ( P = 0.08) in the Low treatment and DMI decreased 14% ( P <0.01) in the High treatment. Conversely, FCE tended to increase 7% in Low ( P = 0.06) and increased 14% in High ( P <0.01) treatment compared to Control. The persistent reduction of CH 4 by A . taxiformis supplementation suggests that this is a viable feed additive to significantly decrease the carbon footprint of ruminant livestock and potentially increase production efficiency.