Daily methane production pattern of Welsh ponies fed a roughage diet with or without a cereal mixture.

This research studies the daily production of methane in Welsh ponies that are fed two types of diets – one, a diet consisting only of roughage (R diet) and another one that contains a mix of roughage and cereal (RC diet). The study indicates that the diet consisting of cereal and roughage mix reduces methane production in ponies as compared to the roughage-only diet.

Objective of the Research

• The central aim of this study was to understand the methane production patterns in Welsh ponies when fed two different types of diets – one consisting only of roughage, and the other, a combination of roughage and cereal mix.

Research Methodology

• The study made use of a crossover design and involved four mature geldings (male horses) of the Welsh breed. Their average body weight was around 230 ± 10.5 kg.
• The research involved two treatments: a roughage-only (R) diet and a cereal mix plus roughage (RC) diet.
• These ponies were placed in pairs in climate-controlled chambers for observation.
• The production of carbon dioxide, oxygen consumption, and methane was measured over three consecutive days.
• Heat production rates were calculated from gas exchange.
• Fecal matter was collected systematically in order to ascertain the digestibility of the dietary nutrients.

Key Findings

• The dry matter intake differed between the two diets. However, the intake of net energy (NE) was found to be the same for both diets (22.3 ± 0.07 MJ NEm/d).
• The organic matter digestibility was lower (47.2%) for the R diet as compared to the RC diet (55.6%).
• It was observed that methane production was high in horses fed the R diet. The methane production tended to decrease by 21% for the group on the RC diet, but this was not strongly decisive (P = 0.064).
• The production of methane increased slightly after feeding and was generally lower for the RC diet at all times during the day.
• Heat production, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide production did not seem to be affected by the type of diet.
• For both diets, heat production was higher after feeding than before and went down three hours after being fed.

Conclusion

• The study seems to indicate that when analyzing equal energy intake, replacement of roughage with a cereal mix leads to reduced methane production. This suggests that the type of diet can influence methane emissions in ponies.
• The study also concluded that no clear pattern in methane emission can be seen from ponies fed at maintenance levels.