METHODS OF REDUCING METHANE EMISSION DERIVED FROM RUMINAL FERMENTATION WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY REDUCING RISK OF NITRATE INTOXICATION

摘要

Methods of reducing methane emission in one or more ruminant animals, while simultaneously avoiding nitrate intoxication, are disclosed. The methods may include feeding the ruminant animal(s) a feed including a slow-release ruminant feed additive, where the slow release of nitrate ion from the feed additive keeps the overall levels of released nitrate in the rumen below a level that would result in nitrate intoxication, yet provides a level of non-protein nitrate ion to ruminant bacteria high enough to act as an antimethanogenic agent, resulting in a reduced production of methane. The slow-release ruminant feed additive may be in a granular or round form and encapsulated by a coating. The feed additive may include 40% to 85% in weight nitrate ion, 0% to 50% in weight sulfur, 1% to 40% in weight of a coating including hydrogenated vegetable fat; and 0% to 20% of additives in weight.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
reducing methane emission in one or more ruminant animals and simultaneously avoiding nitrate intoxication in the one or more ruminant animals, by feeding the one or more ruminant animals a feed comprising a slow-release ruminant feed additive; wherein the slow release of nitrate ion from the feed additive keeps the overall levels of released nitrate in the rumen below a level that would result in nitrate intoxication of the one or more ruminant animals, yet provides a level of non-protein nitrate ion to ruminant bacteria high enough to act as an antimethanogenic agent, resulting in a reduced production of methane; and wherein the slow-release ruminant feed additive is in a granular or round form encapsulated by a coating, and comprises:
i. 40% to 85% in weight of a source of nitrate ion, wherein the source of nitrate ion is physiologically suitable for ruminant animals;ii. 0% to 50% in weight of a source of sulfur, wherein the source of sulfur is physiologically suitable for ruminant animals;iii. 1% to 40% in weight of the coating, the coating comprising one or more hydrogenated vegetable fats; andiv. 0% to 20% of additives in weight; wherein the nitrate ion source, sulfur source and any additives are combined and presented in granular or round form, and are encapsulated by the coating; and wherein, once the feed additive is in a rumen of the one or more ruminant animals, the nitrate ion once consumed is slowly released from the feed additive such that the overall levels of released nitrate in the rumen are maintained below a level that would result in nitrate intoxication of the one or more ruminant animals, yet provide a level of non-protein nitrate ion high enough to act as an antimethanogenic agent, resulting in a reduced production of methane.