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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.07.15.204958

Red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) supplementation reduces enteric methane by over 80 percent in beef steers

Roque, B. M.·Venegas, M. E.·Kinley, R.·deNys, R.·Neoh, T. L.·Duarte, T. L.·Yang, X.·Salwen, J.·Kebreab, E.
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Abstract

The red macroalgae (seaweed) Asparagopsis spp. has shown to reduce ruminant enteric methane (CH4) production up to 99% in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Asparagopsis taxiformis on CH4 production (g/day per animal), CH4 yield (g CH4/kg dry matter intake (DMI)), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), and carcass and meat quality in growing beef steers. Twenty-one Angus-Hereford beef steers were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups: 0% (Control), 0.25% (Low Dose; LD), and 0.5% (High Dose; HD) A. taxiformis inclusion based on organic matter intake. Steers were fed 3 diets: high, medium, and low forage total mixed ration (TMR) representing typical life-stage diets of growing beef steers. The LD and HD treatments over 147 days reduced enteric CH4 yield 45 and 68%, respectively; however, there was an interaction between TMR type and the magnitude of CH4 yield reduction. Supplementing the low forage TMR reduced CH4 yield 69.8% (P <0.001) for LD and 80% (P <0.001) for HD treatment. Hydrogen (H2) yield (g H2/DMI) increased significantly (P<0.001) 336 and 590% compared to Control for the LD and HD treatments, respectively. No differences were found in carbon dioxide (CO2) yield (g CO2/DMI), ADG, carcass quality, strip loin proximate analysis and shear force, or consumer taste preferences. DMI tended (P = 0.08) to decrease 8% in steers in LD treatment but significantly (P = 0.002) reduced 14% in steers in HD treatment. Conversely, FCE tended to increase 7% in steers in LD treatment (P = 0.06) and increased 14% in steers in HD (P < 0.01) treatment compared to Control. The persistent reduction of CH4 by A. taxiformis supplementation suggests that this is a viable feed additive to significantly decrease the carbon footprint of ruminant livestock and potentially increase production efficiency.

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Roque, B. M., Venegas, M. E., Kinley, R., deNys, R., Neoh, T. L., Duarte, T. L., Yang, X., Salwen, J., Kebreab, E.. 2020-07-16. Red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) supplementation reduces enteric methane by over 80 percent in beef steers. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.15.204958

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