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Enteric Methane and Nitrogen Emissions in Beef Cattle Grazing a Tannin-Containing Legume Relative to Feedlot and Traditional Pasture-Based Production Systems

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Enteric Methane and Nitrogen Emissions in Beef Cattle Grazing a Tannin-Containing Legume Relative to Feedlot and Traditional Pasture-Based Production Systems Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 12-2019 Enteric Methane and Nitrogen Emissions in Beef Cattle Grazing a Tannin-Containing Legume Relative to Feedlot and Traditional Pasture-Based Production Systems Raúl David Guevara Ballesteros Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Agriculture Commons Recommended Citation Ballesteros, Raúl David Guevara, "Enteric Methane and Nitrogen Emissions in Beef Cattle Grazing a Tannin-Containing Legume Relative to Feedlot and Traditional Pasture-Based Production Systems" (2019). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7666. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7666 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ENTERIC METHANE AND NITROGEN EMISSIONS IN BEEF CATTLE GRAZING A TANNIN-CONTAINING LEGUME RELATIVE TO FEEDLOT AND TRADITIONAL PASTURE-BASED PRODUCTION SYSTEMS by Raúl David Guevara Ballesteros A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Range Science Approved: _________________________ _________________________ Juan J. Villalba, Ph.D. Jennifer W. MacAdam, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member _________________________ _________________________ Eric Thacker, Ph.D. Richard S. Inouye, Ph.D. Committee Member Vice Provost for Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2019 ii Copyright © Raúl David Guevara Ballesteros 2019 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Enteric Methane and Nitrogen Emissions in Beef Cattle Grazing a Tannin-containing Legume Relative to Feedlot and Traditional Pasture-based Production Systems by Raúl David Guevara Ballesteros, Master of Science Utah State University, 2019 Major Professor: Dr. Juan J. Villalba Department: Wildland Resources The livestock sector produces 35.4% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to methane produced by enteric fermentation and manure storage. Beef cattle are ruminants typically finished on grain-based rations, which yield lower methane emissions than grass-based diets. Some “non-traditional” legumes contain beneficial chemicals like condensed tannins, which in addition to their high nutritional quality enhance the efficiency of nutrient use in ruminants relative to grasses and other legumes. I assessed animal performance, methane emissions, and concentration of nitrogen in urine and blood urea nitrogen in cattle grazing a tannin-containing legume (birdsfoot trefoil; BFT; Lotus corniculatus L.), relative to a legume without tannins (cicer milkvetch; CMV; Astragalus cicer), a grass (meadow brome; MB; Bromus riparius), or a feedlot ration (total mixed ration; TMR) with high contents of roughage (50%). Cows grazing BFT showed greater weight gains than cows grazing CMV or MB (P=0.0006), but similar to cows fed the TMR (P=0.5790). Methane emissions per unit of iv intake from cows grazing BFT were lower than emissions from animals consuming the TMR (P=0.0740), when the fecal output/digestibility methodology was used to assess dry matter intake at pasture. This suggests a positive effect of condensed tannins or nutrients in BFT on methane abatement. Methane emissions were comparable among animals grazing CMV (P=0.1180), MB (P=0.6763) or fed the TMR. Blood urea nitrogen concentrations were similar in cows grazing legumes (P=0.1202), but greater than in animals grazing MB or consuming the TMR (P=<.0001). Urinary nitrogen concentrations were similar among all diets (P=0.5266). These results indicate grazing BFT is a viable alternative to high-roughage feedlot rations for maintaining beef production with similar or potentially lower levels of methane emissions. Finally, I estimated the agricultural areas under irrigation in the state of Utah using remote sensing techniques. The estimated amount of agricultural land under irrigation in the state of Utah was 412,250 ha. These results suggest that legume-based grazing systems are a viable option for the state. In conclusion, this research project provides novel and valuable information for the future implementation of an alternative and more sustainable beef production system based on cows grazing tannin-containing legumes. (132 pages) v PUBLIC ABSTRACT Enteric Methane And Nitrogen Emissions In Beef Cattle Grazing A Tannin-containing Legume Relative To Feedlot And Traditional Pasture-based Production Systems Raúl David Guevara Ballesteros Beef cattle production is highly criticized because of the high use of land and water resources, and by the pollution (e.g., the gas methane in a cow’s breath and nitrogen in urine) produced by cows fed in feedlots. In contrast to feedlots diets and grasses, some plants (e.g., legumes) contain bioactive compounds (condensed tannins) that reduce pollution and enhance animal nutrition. In my research, I observed that cows grazing a tannin-containing legume (birdsfoot trefoil; BFT) had methane emissions similar to cows fed a feedlot ration with comparable weight gains. Cows in the BFT treatment gained more weight than cows grazing grass (meadow brome) or a legume without tannins (cicer milkvetch). Additionally, I estimated the potential areas in the state of Utah than can sustain birdsfoot trefoil production, with 412,250 ha distributed mostly in the Box elder, Cache, Millard and Sanpete counties. Thus, feeding tannin-containing legumes to cows is a viable alternative to feedlot rations, with greater levels of productivity than other pasture-based systems, which can lead to a more sustainable production of beef. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to express my gratitude to all the people that support my research project and also to the ones that help me and coincide with me during my experience living at Utah State University. Mainly, to my main advisor, Juan Villalba, who gave me the opportunity to reach a master degree and to have the chance to learn from him how to be an outstanding researcher. As well, I would like to show my appreciation to my committee members, Jennifer MacAdam, and Erick Thaker, who provided me with indispensable tools, resources, and knowledge for the proper performance of my grad program. I want to thank my mentors and friends: Nicolas DiLorenzo, Martin Moreno and all the people who worked with me in IFAS-NFREC of the University of Florida, for being an inspiration and encouraged me to pursue a research pathway. My special thanks to the persons directly involved in the execution of the experiments, particularly, Alexis Copper, Justin Taylor and Brenan Britner for being the key support during long days of work, even in tough circumstances. As well, to other students that participate during the development of the study. I would like to praise Sebastian Lagrange and Andrea Bolletta, to stay attentive to me and being a guideline during this research experience. I want to appreciate and dedicate this effort to my family, Patricia Ballesteros, Raúl Guevara, and Santiago Guevara for their preys and their confidence in the success of this challenge in my life. I´m deeply thankful with my friends in Colombia, mostly, Cindy Peña and Ginna Lorena Quevedo, for being the lighthouse of my mind in the complicated situations that I had over here. My expressed love and affection to my vii friends and family around the world for cheering me and share with me their joy through this journey. Raúl David Guevara Ballesteros viii For my family and friends around the world ix CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii PUBLIC ABSTRACT .........................................................................................................v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. vi DEDICATION ................................................................................................................. viii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 REFERENCES ..........................................................................................19 II. A COMPARISON OF ENTERIC METHANE AND NITROGEN EMISSIONS IN FOUR BEEF FINISHING SYSTEMS: FEEDLOT, GRASS, TANNIN- AND NON-TANNIN CONTAINING LEGUMES ..............35 ABSTRACT ...............................................................................................35 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................36 MATERIALS AND METHODS ...............................................................38 RESULTS ..................................................................................................53 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................68 CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................78 REFERENCES ..........................................................................................80 III. ESTIMATION
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