In Vivo Reductions in Methane and Urinary Nitrogen by Perennial Non-Bloating Temperate Legume and Forb Functional Forages Produced in the Mountain West United States

• Autores: MacAdam, Jennifer W.; Villalba, Juan J.; Lagrange, Sebastian Pablo; Stewart, Elizabeth K.; Pitcher, Lance R.; Slebodnik, Kathryn A.; Norton, Jeanette M.; Reeve, Jennifer R.; Yunhua, Zhang; Bolletta, Andrea Ivana; Legako, Jerrad F.; Christensen, Rachael G.; Hunt, Sara R.
• Año de publicación: 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Fuente: Grass and Forage Science 80 (2) : e12719. (June 2025)
• Materia: Metano; Ganadería; Taninos; Emisiones de Metano; Medicago sativa; Estados Unidos de América; Nitrógeno; Methane; Animal Husbandry; Tannins; Methane Emission; United States of America; Nitrogen; Alfalfa; Lucerne
• Institución: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria

Ruminant livestock production is the greatest source of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) production, largely due to enteric methane (CH4) emissions. While the optimised feed rations used in confinement dairy and beef finishing operations can reduce CH4 emissions of individual animals compared with cattle on forage diets, the profitability of beef cowherds and grazing-based dairies rests on controlling the input costs, most notably feed. Grazing is the least costly feed source, and we have studied the management of non-bloating, nutrient-dense perennial forages with the goal of maximising benefits to ruminants, the environment, producers, and consumers. The naturally alkaline soils, dry climate, long sunny days, and cool nights of the Mountain West United States are favourable for the productivity and persistence of perennial legumes. While alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the highest-value cash crop in the western United States, it is not routinely used for grazing due to the likelihood of bloat. Relative to cattle grazing cool-season grass pastures, cattle grazing sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), and cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) had greater intake, production, and lower urinary nitrogen. As a function of intake, the enteric CH4 emissions of cows, heifers, and calves grazing these legume pastures were reduced 25%–63% compared with the same cattle on grass pastures, and heifers grazing legume pastures had CH4 emissions no different from heifers on total mixed rations. We integrate these observations of temperate perennial forage legumes and forbs with the wider literature to identify promising traits and species.
EEA Bordenave
Fil: MacAdam, Jennifer W. Utah State University. Department of Plants, Soils & Climate; Estados Unidos.
Fil: Villalba, Juan J. Utah State University. Department of Wildland Resources; Estados Unidos.
Fil: Lagrange, Sebastián Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bordenave; Argentina
Fil: Stewart, Elizabeth K. Utah State University. Department of Wildland Resources; Estados Unidos.
Fil: Pitcher, Lance R. Utah State University. Department of Plants, Soils & Climate; Estados Unidos.
Fil: Slebodnik, Kathryn A. Utah State University. Department of Plants, Soils & Climate; Estados Unidos.
Fil: Norton, Jeanette M. Utah State University. Department of Plants, Soils & Climate; Estados Unidos
Fil: Reeve, Jennifer R. Utah State University. Department of Plants, Soils & Climate; Estados Unidos
Fil: Yunhua, Zhang. Anhui Agricultural University. School of Resources and Environment; China
Fil: Bolletta, Andrea Ivana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bordenave; Argentina
Fil: Legako, Jerrad F. Texas Tech University. Department of Animal and Food Sciences; Estados Unidos
Fil: Christensen, Rachael G. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Research Service. Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory; Estados Unidos
Fil: Hunt, Sara R. Utah State University. Department of Plants, Soils & Climate; Estados Unidos