Energy partitioning and methane emission by sheep fed sorghum silages at different maturation stages

Abstract

Energy partitioning and methane production by sheep fed silages of three commercially available sorghum hybrids (BRS 610, BR 700 and BRS 655) harvested at three maturation stages (milk, soft dough and floury) were evaluated in open circuit respiration chambers. A complete randomized design was used in a 3 × 3 (hybrids × maturity stages) factorial arrangement, and the means were compared by the Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test (P0.10) among the treatments for the apparent digestibility of gross energy and metabolizability (qm). An interaction (P0.10) among treatments occurred in the daily methane production. There is substantial genetic diversity within sorghum species, determining different nutritional values. Sorghum genetics and maturity at harvest should not be an opportunity to reduce the contribution of agriculture to methane emissions.

Keywords

• energia líquida
• gases de efeito estufa
• respirometria
• valor nutricional