Animal Science, Department of
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Date of this Version
2026
Citation
2026 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pages 78-80, MP-121, University of Nebraska Extension, 2026
Abstract
Summary with Implications
A 139-day finishing experiment evaluating the effects of feeding RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair NE) during diet adaptation compared to a traditional forage program on methane and carbon dioxide emissions was done to corroborate a previous study (2025 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 55-58). Cattle were measured using a calorimetry emission barn to quantify the production of methane and carbon dioxide during step 1 of adaptation and 1 time during a common finishing diet. Feeding RAMP had no statistical reduction in methane or carbon dioxide production during step 1. When cattle were fed the same finishing diet, there was a 7% reduction in methane due to possible carry over effects from feeding RAMP. These data suggest there was a likely reduction in methane during finishing by feeding RAMP during adaptation compared to using a conventional program, which corroborates previous work, but a significant decrease in methane was not observed during step 1.
Comments
Copyright 2026, Board of Regents, University of Nebraska. Used by permission