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Provision of High-Quality Molasses Blocks to Improve Productivity and Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Smallholder Cattle and Buffalo in Developing Countries
Windsor, P.A.; Hill, J. Provision of High-Quality Molasses Blocks to Improve Productivity and Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Smallholder Cattle and Buffalo: Studies from Lao PDR. Animals2022, 12, 3319.
Windsor, P.A.; Hill, J. Provision of High-Quality Molasses Blocks to Improve Productivity and Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Smallholder Cattle and Buffalo: Studies from Lao PDR. Animals 2022, 12, 3319.
Windsor, P.A.; Hill, J. Provision of High-Quality Molasses Blocks to Improve Productivity and Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Smallholder Cattle and Buffalo: Studies from Lao PDR. Animals2022, 12, 3319.
Windsor, P.A.; Hill, J. Provision of High-Quality Molasses Blocks to Improve Productivity and Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Smallholder Cattle and Buffalo: Studies from Lao PDR. Animals 2022, 12, 3319.
Abstract
Large ruminant production in developing countries is inefficient with low growth rates and likely high greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) per unit of meat or milk produced. Trials conducted in Lao PDR from 2017-2020, studied ad-libitum supplementation for 12 weeks with 20kg high quality molasses nutrient blocks (MNB; Four Seasons Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia), that were either: non-medicated (NMB); fenbendazole-medicated (FMB5, Panacur100®, Coopers Australia, @ 5g/kg); triclabendazole-medicated (TMB5 or TMB10, Fasinex®, Novartis Australia, @ 5g/kg or @ 10g/kg, respectively); or formulated with urea (UMB8 or UMB10 @ 8% or 10% urea, respectively). Average daily gains (ADG) were determined for access to all MNB’s and compared with access to NMB’s, no supplementation, or previously determined free-grazing baseline ADG’s (55–84g in cattle; 92–106g in buffalo). ADGs were significantly improved following access to all MNBs for periods up to 12wks. ADGs following access to UMB8 or NMB were calculated for three age cohorts of cattle: young calves <8m (238-298g), growing cattle (143-214g) and lactating cows (179-191g). Modelling using IPCC Inventory software model V 2.69 of published data demonstrated a conservative net abatement of 350kg CO2e was achievable over a 200 day feeding period. An additional trial of Emissions control blocks (EMB’s, n = 200) distributed to farmers (n = 60) and two educational institutions, was conducted. Consumption rates (156g/day) and farmer and institutional acceptance of EMB’s were similar to published findings with other MNB’s, confirming all MNB’s and EMB’s improved animal productivity and body condition score, with healthier animals that were easier to manage. Modelling of changes in GHGe intensity identified an abatement of 470kg CO2e per EMB consumed, delivering a total project emissions abatement of 94t CO2e. Provision of MNBs and EMBs in smallholder large ruminant production systems is likely to achieve impressive abatement of GHGe due to improved efficiency of rumen fermentation and productivity.
Keywords
large ruminants, molasses blocks, greenhouse gas emissions, abatement, climate change
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Food Science and Technology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
