The effects of feeding ferric citrate on ruminal bacteria, methanogenic archaea and methane production in growing beef steers.

ABSTRACT: Methane produced by cattle is one of the contributors of anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Methods to lessen methane emissions from cattle have been met with varying success; thus establishing consistent methods for decreasing methane production are imperative. Ferric iron may possibly act to decrease methane by acting as an alternative electron acceptor. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of ferric citrate on the rumen bacterial and archaeal communities and its impact on methane production. In this study, eight steers were used in a repeated Latin square design with 0, 250, 500 or 750 mg Fe/kg DM of ferric iron (as ferric citrate) in four different periods. Each period consisted of a 16 day adaptation period and 5 day sampling period. During each sampling period, methane pro

SUBMITTER: Clemmons BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8115977 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature