Methane Production in Growing Goats

Abstract

Methane is usually produced in the rumen as the end product of fermentation, as well as a loss in potential energy for ruminants. The methane production is directly proportional to the concentration of dissolved H2. Therefore, we must prevent access to these protons by methanogenic organisms through the optimizing of its use. The experiment will be carried out at the goat study sector at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences of the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal Campus and will be used 30 female Saanen goats, with initial body weight of 15 and 30 kg respectively. Methane production will be determined by two methods. The first is through the methodology of tracer gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in females fed with different levels of power, and in the second determination of methane production, It will be used the technique of in vitro gas production. The design is completely randomized. The objective of this experiment is to compare two techniques for determining the methane production in confined goats.