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Methane-suppressing effect of myristic acid in sheep as affected by dietary calcium and forage proportion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Andrea Machmüller ,
Carla R. Soliva  and
Michael Kreuzer
Andrea Machmüller*
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH Zentrum/LFW, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Carla R. Soliva
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH Zentrum/LFW, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Michael Kreuzer
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH Zentrum/LFW, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Andrea Machmüller, fax +41 1 632 1128, email andrea.machmueller@alumni.ethz.ch
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Abstract

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The efficiency of myristic acid (14:0) as a feed additive to suppress CH4 emissions of ruminants was evaluated under different dietary conditions. Six sheep were subjected to a 6 × 6 Latin square arrangement. A supplement of non-esterified 14: 0 (50 g/kg DM) was added to two basal diets differing in their forage:concentrate values (1:1/5 and 1: 0/5), which were adjusted to dietary Ca contents of 4/2 and 9/0 g/ kg DM, respectively. Comparisons were made with the unsupplemented basal diets (4/2 g Ca/kg DM). The 14:0 supplementation decreased (P < 0/001) total tract CH4 release depending on basal diet type (interaction, P < 0/001) and dietary Ca level (P < 0/05, post hoc test). In the concentrate-based diet, 14:0 suppressed CH4 emission by 58 and 47% with 4/2 and 9/0 g Ca/kg DM, respectively. The 14:0 effect was lower (22%) in the forage-based diet and became insignificant with additional Ca. Myristic acid inhibited (P < 0/05) rumen archaea without significantly altering proportions of individual methanogen orders. Ciliate protozoa concentration was decreased (P < 0/05, post hoc test) by 14:0 only in combination with 9/0 g Ca/kg DM. Rumen fluid NH3 concentration and acetate:pro-pionate were decreased (P < 0/05) and water consumption was lower (P < 0/01) with 14:0. The use of 14:0 had no clear effects on total tract organic matter and fibre digestion; this further illustrates that the suppressed methanogenesis resulted from direct effects against methanogens. The present study demonstrated that 14:0 is a potent CH4 inhibitor but, to be effective in CH4 mitigation feeding strategies, interactions with other diet ingredients have to be considered.

Keywords

MethaneMyristic acidForageCalcium
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 90 , Issue 3 , September 2003 , pp. 529 - 540
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

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