A Meta-Analysis of 3-Nitrooxypropanol Dietary Supplementation on Growth Performance, Ruminal Fermentation, and Enteric Methane Emissions of Beef Cattle
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and enteric methane emissions of beef cattle using a meta-analytic approach. The final meta-analysis database included results from 15 scientific articles. The response variables were analyzed through random effects models, where the results were reported as weighted mean differences (WMD) between the treatments without 3-NOP and those supplemented with 3-NOP. The dietary inclusion of 3-NOP decreased (p 0.05) average daily gain and increased (p < 0.05) feed efficiency. In the rumen, 3-NOP supplementation increased (p < 0.01) the pH and ruminal concentration of propionate, butyrate, valerate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate. In contrast, dietary supplementation with 3-NOP decreased (p < 0.001) the rumen concentration of ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids, acetate, and the acetate/propionate ratio. Furthermore, daily methane (CH4) emission, CH4 yield, and CH4 emission as a percentage of gross energy ingested decreased (p < 0.001) in response to 3-NOP dietary supplementation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 3-nitrooxypropanol can be used as a nutritional strategy to improve feed efficiency and ruminal fermentation in beef cattle and, at the same time, reduce enteric methane emissions.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in animal, not in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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