Effect of inclusion of peanut skin to the diet on enteric methane emissions in sheep fed alfalfa

• Autores: Martinez Ferrer, Jorge; Brunetti, Maria Alejandra; Amaya, Alexis; Gualdron-Duarte, Laura Bibiana; Gere, José Ignacio; Ceron Cucchi, Maria Esperanza; Garcia, Florencia
• Año de publicación: 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: documento de conferencia
• Fuente: 9th International Greenhouse Gas & Animal Agriculture Conference. Nairobi, Kenya. October 5-9 2025
• Materia: Oveja; Metano; Cacahuete; Medicago sativa; Ewes; Methane; Groundnuts; Sheep; Animal Feeding; Ovinos; Arachis hypogaea; Alimentación de los Animales; Alfalfa; Maní; Lucerne
• Institución: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria

Poster
Peanut is an important crop for Córdoba province (Argentina) which generates circa 10,000 tonnes annually of skin (tegument), which can be used as animal feed. Peanut skin contains polyphenols, diverse and complex compounds known to inhibit methanogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of peanut skin inclusion on enteric methane emission in sheep fed alfalfa. Twenty Poll Dorset rams (47.6 ± 5.7 kg BW) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to three levels of peanut skin inclusion (DM basis): 0% (CONTROL; n = 6), 10% (n = 7) and 20% (n = 7). Rams were kept in individual pens, and fed alfalfa and peanut skin, both pelletized, once a day in a single feeder. Peanut skin (29, 318 and 160 g kg-1 of N, NDF and fat; 65 mg GAE g-1DM) was gradually incorporated (10 days) replacing the alfalfa (34, 466 and 37 g kg-1 of N, NDF and fat). Methane emissions were assessed 35 and 85 days after achieving the targeted inclusion levels. During methane measurement, feed offer was restricted to approximately 0.9 of the ad libitum dry matter intake (42.5 g kg-1BW). Methane emission was determined using SF6 tracer gas technique, adapted for an extended duration (4 days) of exhaled gas samples collection. Calibrated SF6 permeation tubes (release rate: 2.027 ± 0.823 mg d-1) were inserted 10 days before measuring methane emission (5, 6 and 5 animals for 0, 10 and 20% treatments). Three canisters sampled air to correct emissions for background gases. Gases concentrations were determined by chromatography. Animals were weighed unshrunk at the beginning, every 14-21 days, and at the end of the experiment (95 days) to calculate average daily BW gain and to adjust feed supply. Data was analysed by ANOVA with a mixed model for a complete randomized block design considering animals as a random effect. Treatment means were compared by pre-planned contrasts (CONTROL vs. TREATMENT; 10% vs. 20% inclusion levels). Data analysed for intake and methane is preliminary (only the first period). Peanut skin inclusion had no effects on DM intake (2.8 ± 0.30 kg d-1; 42.0 ± 1.30 g kg-1BW), but increased daily gain (P = 0.0219), being 197, 218 and 253 (± 13) g d-1 for 0, 10 and 20% respectively; and gain tended to be higher with 20% compared to 10% inclusion (P = 0.0620). Methane emissions were not affected by peanut skin inclusion (P > 0.1), either as absolute values (53.8, 42.7 and 43.9 ± 7.70 g CH4 d-1) or relative to intake (17.6, 15.2 and 15.4 ± 2.64 g CH4 kg-1DMI for 0, 10 and 20% inclusion respectively). This was probably due to a high variability and small replicate numbers. Methane intensity was reduced (P = 0.0244) in rams receiving peanut skin (275, 193 and 163 ± 31.6 g CH4 kg-1 gain for 0, 10 and 20% inclusion respectively). In conclusion, peanut skin inclusion to an alfalfa diet does not affect intake, improves gain and reduces 30% methane intensity in sheep.
EEA Manfredi, INTA
Fil: Martínez Ferrer, Jorge. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; Argentina
Fil: Brunetti, Ma. Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; Argentina
Fil: Amaya, Alexis. Universidad Nacional de Villa María; Argentina
Fil: Gualdrón-Duarte, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; Argentina
Fil: Gere, José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Gere, José. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. División Investigación y Desarrollo de Ingenierías; Argentina
Fil: Ceron Cucchi, Maria Esperanza. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; Argentina
Fil: García, Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentina