Methane-producing bacteria, known as methanogenic archaea, flourish in the rumen under specific conditions and is influenced by various factors. The composition of the diet plays a significant role, as fermentable carbohydrates like cellulose and hemicellulose facilitate their proliferation.
Additionally, feed quality impacts methane production, with high-quality forages resulting in lower methane levels compared to low-quality forages with higher lignin content. Methane production is positively correlated with feed intake, meaning that higher consumption leads to increased methanogenesis.
Moreover, the ruminal pH, ideally ranging from 6.0 to 7.0, affects the growth of methanogens, and a decrease in pH can hinder their proliferation. The ruminal enviroment, typically characterised by a reducing redox potential, provides a favourable setting for methanogenic archaea. These bacteria rely on hydrogen gas produced during fermentation, and their availability significantly influences methane production. Furthermore, the coexistence of methane-producing bacteria with olther microorganisms, such as cellulolytic bacteria, within the rumen ecosystem also affects their abundance.
The prediction formula below suggests that the daily methane production of dairy cattle can be estimated by adding a baseline value of 62 L (with a possible variability of ± 5.5 L) to the product of 25.0 (with a possible variability of ± 0.54) times the dry matter intake (DMI) of the cattle. The DMI is a key factor influencing mathen production, and this formula provides a way to quantify this relationship and make predictions about methane emissions based on feed intake.
Continue reading this article published in Dairy Global.
