Evaluation of forage production, animal performance and mitigation of methane emissions from beef cattle in different pasture systems

Abstract

The accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere remains an important topic of scientific and public interest. The increase in these gases has been considered to be a major cause of the global warming. In this context, agribusiness, especially the Brazilian livestock production sector, has been the target of concern. This is because cattle represent 83.9% of all livestock production in Brazil; moreover, the country has the second largest cattle herd in the world. Appropriate agricultural practices can reduce and/or mitigate GHG emissions and improve the sustainability of the cattle industry. The manipulation of ruminal fermentation in the production systems is considered the important strategy to mitigate GHG in Brazil. The methodology trials aims to evaluate: 1) Characterization of pasture productive components; 2) animal performance and dry matter intake; and 3) ruminal methane measurements. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different grazing systems, including ammonium nitrate supplementation, on forage (characterization of forage production and components), animals (performance and dry matter intake) and environment (GHG emissions). In this way, this project will allow to point out which, among the most productive systems available, have the greatest potential to mitigate GHG. The hypothesis is that deferred grazing systems and ammonium nitrate supplementation results in better animal performance and environmental beneficial effects, through reductions in GHG emissions, when expressed per unit of product (meat or milk), or through the land-saving phenomena. (AU)