Thesis
THE EVALUATION OF ZEOLITE (CLINOPTILOLITE) INCLUSION ON ENTERIC METHANE IN AN ARTIFICIAL RUMEN SIMULATION TECHNIQUE (RUSITEC)
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007305
Abstract
Zeolite Clinoptilolite (ZC), a naturally occurring mineral, has shown the potential to reduce methane emissions in dairy cattle. With increasing pressure on the agricultural industry to implement methane mitigation strategies, ZC offers a possible solution by targeting ruminal microflora responsible for methane production. This study evaluated ZC as an enteric methane reducer in an artificial closed fermentation system. We hypothesized that ZC could reduce methane while maintaining other production-associated parameters.
We utilized 18 fermenters with 9 fermenters per treatment and three runs. Two diets were formulated with adjusted levels of ZC (0% ZC, and 5% DMI ZC). Rumen fluid used as inoculum was collected from harvested cows. The system was consistently supplied with artificial saliva (dilution rate of 2.9%/hr), periodically agitated, fed daily, and kept O2-free to mimic rumination. Effluent produced by the fermenters was measured and recorded daily. Each of the three runs lasted 12 days, allowing the fermenters to achieve a steady state within the initial 8 days. The sampling period went from day 9 to 12. We evaluated the fermentation parameters of pH, volatile fatty acids, dry matter disappearance, digestibility, gas production, and methane synthesis.
Zeolite did not affect methane production; it only numerically reduced methane, with methane concentration (g/L) decreasing from 32.33 (CON) to 28.99 and daily methane production (mg/g) from 18.84 to 16.82. Digestibility results showed no significant difference in dry matter (DM) or organic matter (OM) digestibility, and starch and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility remained unaffected. Crude protein (CP) digestibility was significantly reduced (P = 0.022) with ZC inclusion. No significant effect was found in VFA proportions or total production. Ammonia concentrations tended to increase (P = 0.080), and microbial nitrogen production tended to decrease (P = 0.056). Zeolite’s high affinity for NH4+ may have directed ammonium away from microbial protein synthesis, and the high NH4+ might explain the lack of reduction in methane production in zeolite diets.
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Details
- Title
- THE EVALUATION OF ZEOLITE (CLINOPTILOLITE) INCLUSION ON ENTERIC METHANE IN AN ARTIFICIAL RUMEN SIMULATION TECHNIQUE (RUSITEC)
- Creators
- Valerie Annabelle Achziger
- Contributors
- Marcos I. Marcondes (Chair)Kimberly M Davenport (Committee Member)Shulin Chen (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Animal Sciences
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 78
- Identifiers
- 99901221151001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis