N-fertilization of tropical pastures improves performance but not methane emission of Nellore growing bulls.

ABSTRACT: Grazing management and N-fertilizer have been reported to improve tropical forage productivity and quality, however, their effect on methane emission of grazing animals remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of increasing application rates of nitrogen (N) fertilization of Marandu palisadegrass under continuous stocking on intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, and enteric methane emissions of Nellore growing bulls. We hypothesized that changes in the forage nutritive value caused by N fertilization of pastures combined with adequate grazing management (e.g., greater crude protein [CP] and digestibility) would lead to an increase in animal productivity (e.g., greater average daily gain [ADG] and gain per area), and then, to a decrease in methane emission inte

SUBMITTER: Lima LO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9831129 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature