Methane chambers were constructed in climate control rooms within CAAS. There are two chambers within each of the two climate control rooms. Within each chamber are two steers housed in individual pens. Methane emissions for each chamber are calculated using methane concentrations and airflow measurement within the supply and exhaust airducts. Each duct is fitted with Debimo air flow measuring blades (Kimo®) and pressure transmitters CP200 (Kimo®). The datalogger acquires the airflow measurements from each of the six ducts every 15 minutes.
Data Logger - CR1000
Sensors & Peripherals - Debimo air flow measuring blades (Kimo®) are fitted in each of the six ducts (two supply and 4 exhaust). Pressure transmitters CP200 (Kimo®) at each duct read in L/sec. In terms of programming the supply ducts are 10V out = 2000L while the exhaust ducts are 10V = 1000L. Methane concentration within each duct is measured using an infra red technique (Columbus Instruments, Ohio, USA). All equipment is in the plant room above the climate control rooms.
What parameters are being measured? The parameters of interest are methane concentration and airflow within each duct.
Communications & Networking - Data is retrieved on a laptop. Programming was performed by Daniel Roebuck, Campbell Scientific
Project Description - This project focuses on the measurement of methane in Bos indicus cattle fed tropical pastures and supplemented with various lipids. Methane is a digestive by-product from cattle and is a major greenhouse gas. Lipids can reduce methane emissions and are also a source of energy. Beef production systems in northern Australia use Bos indicus cattle grazed on subtropical pastures. These pastures generate high methane emissions and are seasonally of poor quality. The purpose of this project is to investigate the impact of lipids on the suppression of methane emissions and improvements in growth rate of cattle fed a diet of subtropical pasture. The lipids include algal meal, sunflower oil and whole cottonseed. No research has been published with regard to methane emissions in cattle fed subtropical pastures supplemented with lipids.
The 32 steers are supplemented for at least 50 days, food intake recorded daily and liveweight measured weekly. Steers enter the chambers for four days (one day equilibration and three day emission measurement).
This is a joint project with University of Queenland and DEEDI. It is funded by MLA (meat and livestock association). This project is headed by Assoc. Professor Athol Klieve. Karen Harper manages and runs this steer trial.