Comparison of Methane Production in Korean Native Cattle (Hanwoo) Fed Different Grain Sources

Abstract

Methane production during anaerobic fermentation in the rumen represents an energy loss to the host animal and induces emissions of greenhouse gases in the environment. Our study focused on comparison in methane production from growing Korean native steers fed different grain sources. Six Hanwoo steers (BW=180.6+or-3.1 kg) were fed, on a DM basis (TDN 2.80 kg), 40% timothy and 60% barley concentrate (Barley) or corn concentrate (Corn), respectively, based on the Korean Feeding Standards. Each period lasted 18 days including a 14-day adaptation and a 4-day measuring times. The steers were in the head hood chamber system (one cattle per chamber) during each measuring time to measure heat and methane production per day. Different grain sources did not affect digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, NDF, ADF and nitrogen-free extract. The mean methane concentrations per day were 202.0 and 177.1 ppm for Barley and Corn, respectively. Methane emission averaged 86.8 and 77.7 g/day for Barley and Corn, respectively. Methane emission factor by maintenance energy requirement for the growing steers fed barley based concentrate was higher than the steers fed corn based concentrate (Barley vs. Corn, 31.7 kg CH4 head-1 yr-1 vs. 28.4 kg CH4 head-1 yr-1). Thus, methane conversion rate was 0.065 (6.5%) and 0.055 (5.5%) for Barley and Corn, respectively.