Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Ensiled Devil Fish and Staphylococcus saprophyticus on Equine Fecal Greenhouse Gases Production.
Authors: García E D Aguilar, Khusro A, Pacheco E B Figueroa, Adegbeye Moyosore J, Barbabosa-Pliego A, Lagunas B Cruz, Salas J M Castro, Mateos R González, Aarti C, Elghandour Mona M M Y
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Reducing methane emissions from equine operations has become increasingly important for environmental sustainability, prompting investigation into alternative feed additives beyond conventional grains. Researchers conducted an in vitro fermentation study using equine faecal inoculum to evaluate ensiled devil fish (an aquatic plant-based silage) incorporated at 0, 6, 12, or 18% of the diet, combined with the probiotic bacterium *Staphylococcus saprophyticus* at doses of 0, 1, or 3 mL/g dry matter. The most significant finding was that dietary inclusion of 12–18% ensiled devil fish reduced methane emissions by approximately 58–59% compared with the control group, whilst *S. saprophyticus* supplementation independently lowered total gas production by up to 23%; notably, however, methane reduction with either intervention was not statistically significant when analysed separately. Carbon dioxide emissions were also reduced by 15% at the highest devil fish inclusion level, though hydrogen production increased with higher devil fish doses. From a practical perspective, these results suggest that ensiled devil fish warrants further investigation as a sustainable forage alternative for reducing the carbon footprint of equine operations, though practitioners should await in vivo (live horse) trials before implementing substantial dietary changes, as in vitro fermentation models do not always translate directly to field conditions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ensiled devil fish silage at 12-18% of diet may offer a practical alternative feed supplement to reduce methane emissions in horses, with potential environmental benefits
- •Combining devil fish silage with S. saprophyticus probiotic supplementation could optimize greenhouse gas mitigation, though effects appear dose-dependent
- •These findings support investigation into aquaculture by-products (devil fish) as sustainable, locally-available feed alternatives that address both nutrition and environmental concerns
Key Findings
- •Ensiled devil fish at 12% and 18% dietary inclusion reduced methane emission by 58.24% and 59.33% respectively compared to control
- •Staphylococcus saprophyticus supplementation reduced total gas production by up to 23.17% compared to control
- •Devil fish at 18% inclusion lowered CO2 emissions by 15.25% at 48 hours of fermentation
- •The combination of devil fish and S. saprophyticus showed interactive effects on gas production, with lowest production at DF18 level