Kudzu Supplementation Reduces Methane Emissions and Improves Tropical Forage Degradability

Researchers from the University of the West Indies have conducted a study on the effects of supplementing Brachiaria hybrid cv Mulato II and elephant grass with tropical kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) to improve in vitro dry matter degradability (DMD), estimated metabolizable energy (ME) content, and methane production. The study found that kudzu supplementation reduced the lag phase of elephant grass from 5.7 to 1.8, compared to the unsupplemented grass. Additionally, ruminal DMD and ME content of the supplemented grasses were similar, but 21 and 25% higher than the unsupplemented grasses. The study also found that estimated CH4 yield decreased by approximately 17% with kudzu supplementation.

Key Takeaways:

• Kudzu supplementation reduced the lag phase of elephant grass from 5.7 to 1.8, compared to the unsupplemented grass.
• Ruminal DMD and ME content of the supplemented grasses were similar, but 21 and 25% higher than the unsupplemented grasses.
• Estimated CH4 yield decreased by approximately 17% with kudzu supplementation.
• Supplementation of Brachiaria hybrid cv Mulato and elephant grass with tropical kudzu to a target CP content offsets the negative effects of maturity on DMD and ME content and reduces CH4 yield in ruminants.
• The study found that kudzu supplementation improved tropical forage degradability and reduced enteric methane emissions.
• The researchers used a target crude protein content of 130 g/kg DM and incubated forage samples in buffered rumen inoculum for 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 72-h.

Statistics:

• 17% decrease in estimated CH4 yield with kudzu supplementation
• 21% increase in ruminal DMD of supplemented grasses compared to unsupplemented grasses
• 25% increase in ruminal ME content of supplemented grasses compared to unsupplemented grasses
• 5.7 to 1.8 reduction in lag phase of elephant grass with kudzu supplementation
• 130 g/kg DM target crude protein content for kudzu supplementation
• 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 72-h incubation periods for forage samples

Sources:

• Discover Agriculture, 2025, 3(1):1-9. Publisher: Springer. Available at: https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00248-x
• University of the West Indies, Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, St. Augustine. Contact: Elisha Leon, Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Additional authors: Martin Hughes, Oral Daley.