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. 2024 Dec 7;14(23):3535.
doi: 10.3390/ani14233535.

Enteric Methane Emission from Cattle Grazing Systems with Cover Crops and Legume-Grass Pasture

José Ignacio Gere  1   2 , Silvina Beatriz Restovich  3 , Juan Mattera  3 , María Isabel Cattoni  3 , Abimael Ortiz-Chura  4   5 , Gabriela Posse  6 , María Esperanza Cerón-Cucchi  1   2   5
Affiliations

Enteric Methane Emission from Cattle Grazing Systems with Cover Crops and Legume-Grass Pasture

José Ignacio Gere et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

This study aims to quantify enteric methane (CH4) emission and dry matter intake (DMI) in beef steers under two rotational grazing systems: (i) a mixture of cover crops (vetch + ryegrass + forage radish) (CC) and (ii) alfalfa and fescue pasture (AFP). Eighteen Hereford steers were divided into two groups (nine steers per group), assigned to either the CC or AFP. Methane emissions were measured using the SF6 tracer technique. The results showed that steers grazing CC produced 29% less CH4 in g/d compared to those on the AFP (119.1 vs. 167.1 g/d for CC and AFP, p < 0.05) and 36% less CH4 yield (4.3 vs. 6.7% of gross energy intake). However, average daily gain (ADG), DMI, and CH4 intensity (gCH4/kg ADG) did not significantly differ between treatments. The integration of CC in a cattle grazing system has the potential to reduce CH4 emissions by improving forage quality.

Keywords: SF6 tracer technique; agriculture; beef cattle; grazing systems; livestock production; sustainability.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Images of the two systems evaluated: a cover crop mixture with annual ryegrass, hairy vetch, and a forage radish (CC) (left); and an alfalfa-fescue pasture (AFP) (right).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Animals in the experiment with equipment set up for monitoring enteric methane emissions using the SF6 tracer technique. Two sample collection systems are placed for each animal inside the blue corrugated tube, which serves to contain the equipment, and the tube is secured to the muzzle.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationship between methane emission intensity (gCH4/kg ADG) and averaged daily gain (ADG) for Hereford steers from CC (white squares) and from AFP (black circles) treatments.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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