In Vitro Assessment of Enteric Methane Emission Potential of Whole-Plant Barley, Oat, Triticale and Wheat

Abstract

The study determined in vitro enteric methane (CH4) emission potential of whole-plant cereal (WPC) forages in relationship to nutrient composition, degradability, and rumen fermentation. Two varieties of each WPC (barley, oat, triticale, and wheat) were harvested from two field replications in each of two locations in central Alberta, Canada, and an in vitro batch culture technique was used to characterize gas production (GP), fermentation, and degradability. Starch concentration (g/kg dry matter (DM)) was least (p p p 4 production (MP; mL) from 12 h to 48 h of incubation was less (p 4 yield (MY; mg of CH4/g DM degraded) of barley and oat grown at one location was less than that of wheat and triticale (28 vs. 31 mg CH4/g DM degraded). Chemical composition failed to explain variation in MY (p = 0.35), but it explained 45% of the variation in MP (p = 0.02). Variation in the CH4 emission potential of WPC was attributed to differences in DMD, aNDFD, and fermentation end-products (R2 ≥ 0.88; p 4 emissions, but animal performance may also be negatively affected due to lower degradability, whereas barley forage may ameliorate emissions without negative effects on animal performance.

Keywords

• barley
• oat
• wheat
• triticale
• nutrient degradability
• methane emission