Publications by authors named "G Martinez-Fernandez"
Despite the increasing interest in developing antimethanogenic additives to reduce enteric methane (CH) emissions and the extensive research conducted over the last decades, the global livestock industry has a very limited number of antimethanogenic feed additives (AMFA) available that can deliver substantial reduction, and they have generally not reached the market yet. This work provides technical recommendations and guidelines for conducting tests intended to screen the potential to reduce, directly or indirectly, enteric CH of compounds before they can be further assessed in in vivo conditions. The steps involved in this work cover the discovery, isolation, and identification of compounds capable of affecting CH production by rumen microbes, followed by in vitro laboratory testing of potential candidates.
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- Biochar is being studied as a supplement for ruminants to potentially reduce methane emissions from digestion, but results vary based on the type, source, and administration methods of the biochar.
- Two experiments were conducted: the first involved 12 steers fed different biochar doses along with molasses to measure methane emissions and analyze rumen microbes over 56 days.
- The second experiment involved 45 heifers grazing together on biochar, also mixed with molasses, for 60 days to assess its impact on productivity and methane emissions under natural grazing conditions.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the effects of the anti-methanogenic compound 3-NOP on rumen microbial profiles and fermentation in pregnant heifers and their offspring, monitoring changes up to 12 months post-treatment withdrawal.
- Results showed significant shifts in fermentation processes, increased beneficial fatty acids, and altered microbial populations in 3-NOP treated animals, leading to a notable decrease in methane emissions during the juvenile stage.
- Early interventions in the rumen microbiome of calves have lasting effects, with treated young animals showing a microbiome composition resembling low methane adult cattle, although the benefits diminished once the treatment ended.
Mitigation of methane emission, a potent greenhouse gas, is a worldwide priority to limit global warming. A substantial part of anthropogenic methane is emitted by the livestock sector, as methane is a normal product of ruminant digestion. We present the latest developments and challenges ahead of the main efficient mitigation strategies of enteric methane production in ruminants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNitrogen use efficiency is an important index in ruminants and can be indirectly evaluated through the N isotopic discrimination between the animal and its diet (Δ15Nanimal-diet). The concentration and source of N may determine both the extent of the N isotopic discrimination in bacteria and N use efficiency. We hypothesised that the uptake and release of ammonia by rumen bacteria will affect the natural 15N enrichment of the bacterial biomass over their substrates (Δ15Nbacteria-substrate) and thereby further impacting Δ15Nanimal-diet.
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