Polygain™ Boosts Lamb Growth and Slashes Methane Emissions
Overview
A new study has shown that lambs fed a diet supplemented with Australian-grown sugarcane-derived polyphenols (Polygain™) grew up to an extra 130 grams per day and produced half the methane of lambs fed a standard feedlot diet. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Melbourne. It was presented at the Nutrition Society Of Australia Conference in 2022. The subsequent academic journal article has published in Animals.
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Trial Overview
Twenty-four lambs were split into three groups of eight. Each group received either control (no Polygain), low dose (0.25% Polygain), or high dose (1% Polygain). Lambs were fed a typical feedlot diet, and feed intake was measured daily. Each lamb was housed in an individual pen to allow accurate measurement of feed intake, growth and methane. Methane emissions were measured using a hooded infrared gas analyser.
The key results were that Polygain groups reduced methane emissions by up to 50% and up to 130 grams per day extra. Additionally, the dry matter intake of lambs supplemented with Polygain was slightly higher than that of control, leading to a large improvement in feed conversion. The researchers subsequently found that the lambs fed the Polygain diet had over 50% lower methane yield (g CH4/kg DMI) and improved feed conversion than those fed the standard diet.
Methane grams per day showing a reduction of 50% for the 0.25% Polygain group
Average daily gain in grams per day for each group; 0.25% group grew an extra 65 grams per day and the 1.0% group grew an extra 130 grams per day
How Does Polygain Work?
At slaughter, rumen fluid was extracted and frozen. Later, the rumen microbiome was sequenced at the Australian Genome Research Facility. This sequencing uncovered the mechanism of action for how Polygain reduces methane and increases growth.
Methane-producing microbes were reduced by up to 80%. Two other bacteria were observed to increase significantly; Sharpea azabuensis by 2600% and Olsenella spp. by 350%. Other academic studies focused on the genetic selection of low methane-producing ruminants identified these bacteria as makers of low methane-producing animals.
Reduction of up to 80% in the phylum of methane-producing microbes (Euryarchaeota phylum)
The largest increase in relative abundance was in Sharpea azabuensis, which previous studies have linked to low methane-producing sheep and dairy cows.
Kittelmann et. al. (2014)
The second largest increase in relative abundance was in Olsenella spp., which previous studies have linked to low methane-producing sheep.
Kittelmann et. al. (2014) and Kamke et. al. (2016)
Conclusion
This study by the University of Melbourne researchers is a promising development in the search for ways to reduce methane emissions from sheep production. Polygain is a natural product that can reduce methane emissions, improve lamb growth, and improve feed efficiency.
References
These results are an excerpt from a published journal article:
Prathap, P.; Chauhan, S.S.; Flavel, M.; Mitchell, S.; Cottrell, J.J.; Leury, B.J.; Dunshea, F.R. Effects of Sugarcane-Derived Polyphenol Supplementation on Methane Production and Rumen Microbial Diversity of Second-Cross Lambs. Animals 2024, 14, 905
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Other papers referenced:
Kittelmann S, Pinares-Patiño CS, Seedorf H, Kirk MR, Ganesh S, et al. (2014) Two Different Bacterial Community Types Are Linked with the Low-Methane Emission Trait in Sheep. PLOS ONE 9(7): e103171.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103171
Kamke J, Kittelmann S, Soni P, Li Y, Tavendale M, Ganesh S, Janssen PH, Shi W, Froula J, Rubin EM, Attwood GT. Rumen metagenome and metatranscriptome analyses of low methane yield sheep reveals a Sharpea-enriched microbiome characterised by lactic acid formation and utilisation. Microbiome. 2016 Oct 19;4(1):56