THE EFFECT OF BENGAL RED SEAWEED ON METHANE EMISSION IN BENGAL GOATS, MEASURED BY CVASU INVENTED RUMINAL MEATHANE MEASURING “ABC” METHOD

Abstract

Methane (CH4), a highly potent greenhouse gas that arrest heat in the atmosphere at a rate much higher than CO2; thus, it is one the prominent contributors to global warming. It is mainly emitted from agricultural and livestock sectors. It intensifies climate change, disrupting ecosystems, weather patterns and contributing to extreme weather conditions. Curbing CH4 emission is unavoidable for a sustainable future and a climate-resilient world. The objective of the research was to establish whether red seaweed, Asparagopsis taxiformis, reduced CH4 emission in the goat. Using a cross-over study design, the goats were split into two groups at random: there was the treatment group which was fed with concentrate feed in combination with red seaweed (1%) while the other group was fed with plain concentrate feed. Methane emissions were captured five times a day for four consecutive days for each of the goats. Considering four days CH4 emission(L/day) treatment group produced 38.59% of the total CH4 produced and the control group produced 61.41%. Thus, if the control group produced 100% CH4 the treatment group were to produce 62.84% CH4 which is 37.16% lower than the control group.