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 (269KB)
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4,200,000Yen (FY1998; 4,200,000Yen)
In order to develop an estimation method of methane emission from ruminants and to improve the accuracy of estimation of methane emission in Japan and Asia, the following experiments using cattle and buffaloes have been conducted.
1) In experiment one, a simple measuring system (Mask System) of methane emission using of mask, blower, flow meter, gas analyzer and personal computer, has been developed. This system can be used in an ordinal cattle barn. The accuracy of measurement of methane emission from ruminants using this system is affected by individual variation, day to day variation and diurnal variation. Among these the diurnal variation is the most important factor to the accuracy of this system. Moreover, the pattem of methane emission is affected by feeding schedule. Based on these results, therefore, the suitable sampling schedule for this system has also been proposed. The experiment was conducted with four Brahman cattle and four buffaloes fed on Ruzi grass hay using the Mask System to measure the methane emission. The Brahman cattle and buffaloes produced 20 and 17 L methane/day/kg dry mater intake (DMI), respectively.
2) In experiment two, methane emission from cows fed on fresh grass and artificially dried grass were measured using ventilated food system. Methane emission/kg DMI of the grass increased from 17 to 31 L with increase in the stage of maturity of the grass. Methane emission from cattle fed on fresh grass and the artificially dried grass were similar when the grass harvested at similar stages of maturity.
Cattle, Buffalo, Methane, Measurement equipment, Fresh grass,