Willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performance
Abstract Willow (Salix sp.) is a common tree used in agroforestry for biofuel production and contains condensed tannins (CTs). This study investigated, for the first time, the feasibility of using willow grazing in a silvopastoral system to improve ruminant productivity while minimizing environmenta...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02289-0 |
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| author | Joshua Philip Thompson Sokratis Stergiadis Omar Cristobal Carballo Wayne E. Zeller Tianhai Yan Francis Lively John Gilliland Rudra N. Purusottam Sharon Huws Katerina Theodoridou |
| author_facet | Joshua Philip Thompson Sokratis Stergiadis Omar Cristobal Carballo Wayne E. Zeller Tianhai Yan Francis Lively John Gilliland Rudra N. Purusottam Sharon Huws Katerina Theodoridou |
| author_sort | Joshua Philip Thompson |
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| description | Abstract Willow (Salix sp.) is a common tree used in agroforestry for biofuel production and contains condensed tannins (CTs). This study investigated, for the first time, the feasibility of using willow grazing in a silvopastoral system to improve ruminant productivity while minimizing environmental impact. The specific objectives were to: (a) characterise willow’s CTs, and (b) explore their effect on methane emissions and animal performance. Twenty growing castrated beef cattle (steers) were used in a two-treatment study comparing grazing systems: a willow fodder mix with a grass understory (WFG) and perennial ryegrass grazing (PRG). The study was conducted using a two-period Latin square design. Steers grazing on WFG had an average daily CT intake of 617 g/d. For CTs, the mean degree of polymerisation was 10.6, and the ratio of procyanidin to prodelphinidin was 28.9:71.2. No significant differences were observed between the two treatments in metabolisable energy intake (P = 0.0728), nitrogen intake (P = 0.844), forage dry matter intake (P = 0.100), or total dry matter intake (P = 0.0591). A 27% reduction in methane production was observed for the WFG treatment relative to PRG (P < 0.001; 173 vs. 273 g/d). This study is the first to provide evidence of the significant potential that willow could have in sustainable livestock production systems worldwide. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-7260f3c8e1fa435b99b12a9426275bc12025-08-20T03:26:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-02289-0Willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performanceJoshua Philip Thompson0Sokratis Stergiadis1Omar Cristobal Carballo2Wayne E. Zeller3Tianhai Yan4Francis Lively5John Gilliland6Rudra N. Purusottam7Sharon Huws8Katerina Theodoridou9Institute of Global Food Security, Queen’s University BelfastSchool of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of ReadingSustainable Livestock Systems Branch, Agri Food and Biosciences InstituteUSDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center USASustainable Livestock Systems Branch, Agri Food and Biosciences InstituteSustainable Livestock Systems Branch, Agri Food and Biosciences InstituteSchool of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University BelfastSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University BelfastInstitute of Global Food Security, Queen’s University BelfastInstitute of Global Food Security, Queen’s University BelfastAbstract Willow (Salix sp.) is a common tree used in agroforestry for biofuel production and contains condensed tannins (CTs). This study investigated, for the first time, the feasibility of using willow grazing in a silvopastoral system to improve ruminant productivity while minimizing environmental impact. The specific objectives were to: (a) characterise willow’s CTs, and (b) explore their effect on methane emissions and animal performance. Twenty growing castrated beef cattle (steers) were used in a two-treatment study comparing grazing systems: a willow fodder mix with a grass understory (WFG) and perennial ryegrass grazing (PRG). The study was conducted using a two-period Latin square design. Steers grazing on WFG had an average daily CT intake of 617 g/d. For CTs, the mean degree of polymerisation was 10.6, and the ratio of procyanidin to prodelphinidin was 28.9:71.2. No significant differences were observed between the two treatments in metabolisable energy intake (P = 0.0728), nitrogen intake (P = 0.844), forage dry matter intake (P = 0.100), or total dry matter intake (P = 0.0591). A 27% reduction in methane production was observed for the WFG treatment relative to PRG (P < 0.001; 173 vs. 273 g/d). This study is the first to provide evidence of the significant potential that willow could have in sustainable livestock production systems worldwide.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02289-0WillowSilvopastureCondensed tanninsMethanePerformanceCattle |
| spellingShingle | Joshua Philip Thompson Sokratis Stergiadis Omar Cristobal Carballo Wayne E. Zeller Tianhai Yan Francis Lively John Gilliland Rudra N. Purusottam Sharon Huws Katerina Theodoridou Willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performance Scientific Reports Willow Silvopasture Condensed tannins Methane Performance Cattle |
| title | Willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performance |
| title_full | Willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performance |
| title_fullStr | Willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performance |
| title_short | Willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performance |
| title_sort | willow silvopastoral systems as a strategy to reduce methane emissions while maintaining cattle performance |
| topic | Willow Silvopasture Condensed tannins Methane Performance Cattle |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02289-0 |
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