Effects of Sugarcane-Derived Polyphenol Supplementation on Methane Production and Rumen Microbial Diversity of Second-Cross Lambs

Pragna Prathap; Surinder S Chauhan; Matthew Flavel; Shane Mitchell; Jeremy J Cottrell; Brian J Leury; Frank R Dunshea

doi:10.3390/ani14060905

Effects of Sugarcane-Derived Polyphenol Supplementation on Methane Production and Rumen Microbial Diversity of Second-Cross Lambs

Animals (Basel). 2024 Mar 14;14(6):905. doi: 10.3390/ani14060905.

Authors

Pragna Prathap¹, Surinder S Chauhan¹, Matthew Flavel^{2

3}, Shane Mitchell², Jeremy J Cottrell¹, Brian J Leury¹, Frank R Dunshea^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystems Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
² TPM Bioactives Division, The Product Makers Pty Ltd., Keysborough, Melbourne, VIC 3173, Australia.
³ Department of Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia.
⁴ Faculty of Biological Sciences, The University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding sugarcane-derived polyphenolic supplement (Polygain, The Product Makers Australia, Keysborough, VIC, Australia) on enteric methane (CH₄) emission, rumen microbiota, and performance of second-cross lambs. For this purpose, 24 Poll Dorset × (Border Leicester × Merino) lambs were allocated to 3 different treatments: Control (C), 0.25% Polygain (0.25 PG), and 1% Polygain (1 PG) diets with a uniform basal feed (25% cracked wheat grain, 25% cracked barley grain, 25% oaten chaff, 25% lucerne chaff). Both doses of Polygain reduced the total CH₄ production (g/day; p = 0.006), CH₄ yield (CH₄, g/kg of dry matter intake; p = 0.003) and CH₄ intensity (CH₄, g/kg of BW; p = 0.003). Dry matter intake tended to be greater (p = 0.08) in sheep fed 1 PG compared to the C group, with the 0.25 PG group being intermediate. The average daily gain of the lambs was improved (p = 0.03) with 1% Polygain supplementation. The relative abundance of genera Methanobrevibacter_unidentified, Methanomethylophilaceae_uncultured, Methanogenic archaeon mixed culture ISO4-G1, Methanosphaera uncultured rumen methanogen, Methanogenic archaeon ISO4-H5, and Methanobrevibacter boviskoreani JH1 were reduced with Polygain supplementation. In conclusion, feeding Polygain reduced lambs' enteric CH₄ emissions, altered the rumen microbiome, and improved the growth performance of lambs.

Keywords: methane; microbiota; polyphenols; sheep.

Grants and funding

This research was partially funded by The Product Makers (Keysborough, Australia); funding number: 303654 and The University of Melbourne. Pragna Prathap received a Melbourne research scholarship from the University of Melbourne to support her PhD research.