The Use of Temperate Tannin Containing Forage Legumes to Improve Sustainability in Forage–Livestock Production

Greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant livestock production systems contribute significantly to the environmental footprint of agriculture. Emissions are lower for feedlot systems than for grass-based systems primarily because of the extra time required for grass-finished cattle to reach slaughter w...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Lagrange, Sebastian Pablo, MacAdam, Jennifer W., Villalba, Juan J.
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2021
País:Argentina
Recursos:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
Repositório:INTA Digital (INTA)
Idioma:inglês
OAI Identifier:oai:localhost:20.500.12123/10805
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/10805
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/11/2264/html
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112264
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Rumiante
Legumonosas Forrajeras
Agricultura Sostenible
Taninos
Medicago Sativa
Onobrychis Viciifolia
Lotus Corniculatus
Emisiones de Metano
Ruminants
Feed Legumes
Sustainable Agriculture
Tannins
Methane Emission
Alfalfa
Descrição
Resumo:Greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant livestock production systems contribute significantly to the environmental footprint of agriculture. Emissions are lower for feedlot systems than for grass-based systems primarily because of the extra time required for grass-finished cattle to reach slaughter weight. In contrast, legume forages are of greater quality than grasses, which enhances intake and food conversion efficiencies, leading to improvements in production and reductions in environmental impacts compared with forage grasses. In addition, the presence of certain bioactives in legumes such as condensed tannins (CT) enhance the efficiency of energy and protein use in ruminants relative to grasses and other feeds and forages. Grazing tannin-containing legumes also reduce the incidence of bloat and improve meat quality. Synergies among nutrients and bioactives when animals graze diverse legume pastures have the potential to enhance these benefits. Thus, a diversity of legumes in feeding systems may lead to more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable beef production than grass monocultures or feedlot rations.