Nitrate and nitrite metabolism in ruminant livestock

Abstract

Global methane emissions from livestock have continue to rise in last decade due to the increasing ruminant population and demand for livestock products. Supplementing the diet of ruminants with nitrate (NO3) is an effective strategy to reduce methane emissions and also provides additional non-protein nitrogen for the growth of rumen microorganisms. The main objective of this thesis was to provide new knowledge about the basic biology of nitrate absorption and nitrite formation in ruminants in order to increase the safety of nitrate supplementation. This thesis includes a review of the literature and five experimental chapters where the effects of dietary nitrate on methane emissions; nitrate and nitrite metabolism in sheep and the physiological effects of dietary nitrate on insulin sensitivity were evaluated.