title: Modification of methane emission in sheep by cysteine and a microbial preparation.
abstract: Modification of methane emission from ruminants by the use of L-cysteine and/or a microbial preparation in wethers fed lucerne hay was assessed in an open circuit respiratory trial according to a 4 x 4 Latin squared design. L-Cysteine (0.1 g kg-1 W0.75, as sulphur equivalent) was drenched daily to wethers as an aqueous solution of hydrochloride. The microbial preparation was a dried mixture of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Streptomyces cellulosae, Streptomyces albidoflavus and Saccharomyces lypolyticum. The microbial preparation was added at 87 mg kg-1 metabolic weight (W0.75) to the daily diet of a wether sheep offered lucerne chaffed hay at a maintenance level of 54 g DM kg-1 W0.75. L-Cysteine suppressed methane emission from the sheep by 13% whereas the microbial preparation actually increased methane emission by 18%. Oxidation-reduction potential, pH, ammonia and VFA were non-significantly influenced by the applied treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Beneke
authors.lastname: Suhubdy
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005503:Food Additives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D012440:Saccharomyces / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives; D003545:Cysteine; D008697:Methane