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Addition of Activated Carbon into a Cattle Diet to Mitigate GHG Emissions and Improve Production

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammed Al-Azzawi

    (Faculty of Health Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia
    School of Agricultural Engineering and Animal Production, Diali University, Diali 32001, Iraq)

  • Les Bowtell

    (Faculty of Health Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia)

  • Kerry Hancock

    (Centre of Research and Innovation, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia)

  • Sarah Preston

    (School of Health and Life Sciences, Federation University, Ballarat 3353, Australia)

Abstract

Globally, the most problematic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of ruminant livestock is methane (CH 4 ), with a global warming potential 25 times that of carbon dioxide. This work considers the emissions and production effects of powdered activated carbon (PAC) at 0.5% by dry matter (DM) on methanogenic rumen flora as the major source of dairy cattle enteric methane emissions. In total, 180 dairy cattle located in Brymaroo, Queensland (QLD), Australia, were studied in a three-cycle repeated measures ANOVA format with a 4 week primary interval. Emissions eructated during milking and in faecal deposits were measured, and in addition, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to determine the collective populations of prokaryotic bacteria and archaea as well methanogenic communities for each treatment. Moreover, 0.5% PAC addition reduced CH 4 emissions by 30–40% and CO 2 emissions by 10%, while improving daily milk production by 3.43%, milk protein by 2.63% and milk fat by 6.32%, on average for the herd ( p < 0.001 in all cases). rRNA gene sequencing showed populations of methanogenic flora decreased by 30% on average with a corresponding increase in the nonmethanogenic species. We strongly advocate further on-farm trials with the dietary addition of PAC in ruminant diets to mitigate emissions while maintaining or improving productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammed Al-Azzawi & Les Bowtell & Kerry Hancock & Sarah Preston, 2021. "Addition of Activated Carbon into a Cattle Diet to Mitigate GHG Emissions and Improve Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8254-:d:600279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Devin B Holman & Xiying Hao & Edward Topp & Hee Eun Yang & Trevor W Alexander, 2016. "Effect of Co-Composting Cattle Manure with Construction and Demolition Waste on the Archaeal, Bacterial, and Fungal Microbiota, and on Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Blignaut, James & Meissner, Heinz & Smith, Hendrik & du Toit, Linde, 2022. "An integrative bio-physical approach to determine the greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sinks of a cow and her offspring in a beef cattle operation: A system dynamics approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).

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