Improving the accuracy of beef cattle methane inventories in Latin America and Caribbean countries

On-farm methane (CH4) emissions need to be estimated accurately so that the mitigation effect of recommended practices can be accounted for. In the present study prediction equations for enteric CH4 have been developed in lieu of expensive animal measurement approaches. Our objectives were to: (1) compile a dataset from individual beef cattle data for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region; (2) determine main predictors of CH4 emission variables; (3) develop and cross-validate prediction models according to dietary forage content (DFC); and (4) compare the predictive ability of these newly-developed models with extant equations reported in literature, including those currently used for CH4 inventories in LAC countries. After outlier's screening, 1100 beef cattle observations from 55 studies were kept in the final dataset (∼ 50 % of the original dataset). Mixed-effects models were fitted with a random effect of study. The whole dataset was split according to DFC into a subset for all-forage (DFC = 100 %), high-forage (94 % ≥ DFC ≥ 54 %), and low-forage (50 % ≥ DFC) diets. Feed intake and average daily gain (ADG) were the main predictors of CH4 emission (g d−1), whereas this was feeding level [dry matter intake (DMI) as % of body weight] for CH4 yield (g kg−1 DMI). The newly-developed models were more accurate than IPCC Tier 2 equations for all subsets. Simple and multiple regression models including ADG were accurate and a feasible option to predict CH4 emission when data on feed intake are not available. Methane yield was not well predicted by any extant equation in contrast to the newly-developed models. The present study delivered new models that may be alternatives for the IPCC Tier 2 equations to improve CH4 prediction for beef cattle in inventories of LAC countries based either on more or less readily available data.

Instituto de Patobiología

Fil: Congio, Guilhermo F. S. University of São Paulo. Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture. Department of Animal Science; Brasil

Fil: Bannink, André. Wageningen University & Research. Wageningen Livestock Research; Países Bajos

Fil: Mayorga, Olga L. Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research; Colombia

Fil: Rodrigues, João P. P. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. Department of Animal Production. Animal Science Institute; Brasil

Fil: Bougouin, Adeline. University of California. Department of Animal Science; Estados Unidos

Fil: Kebreab, Ermias. University of California. Department of Animal Science; Estados Unidos

Fil: Carvalho, Paulo C. F. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Department of Forage Plants and Agrometeorology; Brasil

Fil: Berchielli, Telma T. São Paulo State University. Department of Animal Science; Brasil

Fil: Mercadante, Maria E. Z. São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency. Institute of Animal Science; Brasil

Fil: Valadares-Filho, Sebastião C. Federal University of Viçosa. Department of Animal Science; Brasil

Fil: Borges, Ana L. C. C. Federal University of Minas Gerais. Department of Animal Science; Brasil

Fil: Berndt, Alexandre. Embrapa Southeast Livestock. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation; Brasil

Fil: Rodrigues, Paulo H. M. University of São Paulo. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Department of Animal Nutrition and Production; Brasil

Fil: Ku-Vera, Juan C. University of Yucatan. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Department of Animal Nutrition; México

Fil: Molina-Botero, Isabel C. National Agrarian University La Molina. Faculty of Animal Science. Department of Animal Husbandry; Perú

Fil: Arango, Jacobo. International Center for Tropical Agriculture; Colombia

Fil: Reis, Ricardo A. São Paulo State University. Department of Animal Science; Brasil

Fil: Posada-Ochoa, Sandra L. University of Antioquia. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences; Colombia

Fil: Tomich, Thierry R. Embrapa Dairy Cattle. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation; Brasil

Fil: Castelán-Ortega, Octavio A. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; México

Fil: Marcondes, Marcos I. Washington State University. Department of Animal Sciences; Estados Unidos

Fil: Gómez, Carlos. National Agrarian University La Molina. Faculty of Animal Science. Department of Animal Husbandry; Perú

Fil: Ribeiro-Filho, Henrique M. N. Santa Catarina State University. Department of Animal and Food Science; Brasil

Fil: Gere, Jose Ignacio. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. División de Investigación y Desarrollo de Ingeniería; Argentina

Fil: Gere, Jose Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Ariza-Nieto, Claudia. Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research; Colombia

Fil: Giraldo, Luis A. National University of Colombia. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Department of Animal Production; Colombia

Fil: Gonda, Horacio. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Department of Animal Nutrition and Management; Suecia

Fil: Ceron Cucchi, Maria Esperanza. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiologia; Argentina

Fil: Ceron Cucchi, Maria Esperanza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Hernandez, Olegario. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santiago del Estero; Argentina

Fil: Ricci, Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Ricci, Patricia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina

Fil: Hristov, Alexander N. The Pennsylvania State University. Department of Animal Science; Estados Unidos