Supplementation with avian-derived polyclonal antibodies against Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii and M. ruminantium decreases ex vivo methane production and modifies ruminal fermentation in Angus crossbred steers.

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to investigate the effect of supplementing polyclonal antibodies (PAP) of avian origin against the ruminal methanogens Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii Ho (PAP-Ho) and M. ruminantium M1 (PAP-M1) on ruminal fermentation profile and methane production in Angus crossbred cattle (13 steers and 1 heifer). The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with a 3 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, replicated in 3 periods. The factors included proportions of PAP against Ho and M1 in the mixture (1000, 5050, and 0100 HoM1) and level of each mixture (3- or 6-mL per d). Cattle in control treatment did not receive PAP supplementation. Ruminal fluid was collected from the animals on days 0, 14, and 21 of treatment to determine of ruminal fermentation profile and ex vivo methane production. There was no effect of level of inclusion on ex vivo methane production. Supplementation with PAP-M1, either alone or in combination with PAP-Ho, decreased ex vivo methane output compared to the control group. Furthermore, in vivo molar proportion of propionate tended to be greater with PAP-M1, alone or combined with PAP-Ho, when compared with the control group. The study concluded that polyclonal antibodies against ruminal methanogens have the potential to decrease enteric methane emissions in cattle. The research provided important insights into the potential use of PAP as a strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cattle. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the practicality and feasibility of using PAP.

Methane is produced by methanogens, a type of microorganism that inhabits environments with low or no oxygen, for instance, the rumen of cattle. Methane is a greenhouse gas, and its emission contributes to climate change. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system when foreign bodies, called antigens, enter the body. Antibodies bind antigens and inhibit their negative actions. This study aimed to determine if oral supplementation of cattle with antibodies produced against 2 species of ruminal methanogens can decrease methane emissions from cattle. Different mixtures and doses of the 2 antibodies were supplemented to Angus crossbred animals for 21 d. Ruminal fluid from each animal was collected and incubated for 48 h to determine methane production and concentration of fermentation metabolites. There was no difference between supplementing low or high levels of antibodies. Supplementation with antibodies can result in up to 13% lower methane emissions and, in addition, production of fermentation metabolites was also affected. In summary, even a low dose of antibodies against methanogens could potentially decrease methane emissions from cattle and could become a technology to mitigate the negative effects of methane on climate.