Journal article
A modified sulphur hexafluoride tracer technique enables accurate determination of enteric methane emissions from ruminants
MH Deighton, SRO Williams, MC Hannah, RJ Eckard, TM Boland, WJ Wales, PJ Moate
Animal Feed Science and Technology | Published : 2014
Abstract
The sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique enables determination of enteric methane emissions from large numbers of individual ruminant animals. The objective of this research was to identify and correct substantial errors within the SF6 technique. Six experiments were undertaken using respiration chamber, laboratory or SF6 techniques. Experiment 1 used respiration chambers to demonstrate that the daily pattern of methane emissions from dairy cows was related to their pattern of feed intake. In contrast, the daily emission of SF6 from these cows was constant and independent of the pattern of methane emission. This finding supports the contention that in order to accurately determine dai..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries - Victoria, Dairy Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia, and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture under its Carbon Farming Futures, Filling the Research Gap Program. The Angus bull data was provided by the NSW Department of Primary Industries within the collaboration of the National Livestock Methane Program. The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance B. Ribaux and the DEPI Ellinbank technical and dairy staff.