Methane emissions of dairy cows cannot be predicted by the concentrations of C8:0 and total C18 fatty acids in milk

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1757 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. O. Williams ◽  
P. J. Moate ◽  
M. H. Deighton ◽  
M. C. Hannah ◽  
W. J. Wales

Methane (CH4) emissions from dairy cows are technically difficult and expensive to measure. Recently, some researchers have found correlations between the concentrations of specific fatty acids in milk fat and the CH4 emissions from cows that could obviate the need for direct measurement. In this research, data on individual cow CH4 emissions and concentration of caprylic acid (C8:0) and total C18 fatty acids in milk were collated from eight experiments involving 27 forage-based diets and 246 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Linear regressions between CH4 and both C8:0 and total C18 in milk were produced for published data and used to calculate 95% prediction regions for a new observation. The proportion of observed methane emissions from eight experiments that fell outside the 95% prediction region was 27.6% for the C8:0 model and 26.3% for the total C18 model. Neither model predicted CH4 emission well with Lin’s coefficient of concordance of less than 0.4 and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of approximately zero for both the C8:0 and total C18 models. In addition, general linear model analysis showed significant differences between experiments in their intercepts (P < 0.001) and slopes (P < 0.001). It is concluded that the relationships tested cannot be used to accurately predict CH4 emissions when cows are fed a wide range of diets.

2019 ◽  
Vol 102 (11) ◽  
pp. 10616-10631 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bougouin ◽  
J. A. D. Ranga Niroshan Appuhamy ◽  
A. Ferlay ◽  
E. Kebreab ◽  
C. Martin ◽  
...  

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Richard O. Williams ◽  
Murray. C. Hannah ◽  
Joe L. Jacobs ◽  
William J. Wales ◽  
Peter J. Moate

The dry matter intake (DMI) of forage-fed cattle can be used to predict their methane emissions. However, many cattle are fed concentrate-rich diets that decrease their methane yield. A range of equations predicting methane yield exist, but most use information that is generally unavailable when animals are fed in groups or grazing. The aim of this research was to develop equations based on proportions of ruminal volatile-fatty-acids to predict methane yield of dairy cows fed forage-dominant as well as concentrate-rich diets. Data were collated from seven experiments with a total of 24 treatments, from 215 cows. Forage in the diets ranged from 440 to 1000 g/kg. Methane was measured either by open-circuit respiration chambers or a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) technique. In all experiments, ruminal fluid was collected via the mouth approximately four hours after the start of feeding. Seven prediction equations were tested. Methane yield (MY) was equally best predicted by the following equations: MY = 4.08 × (acetate/propionate) + 7.05; MY = 3.28 × (acetate + butyrate)/propionate + 7.6; MY = 316/propionate + 4.4. These equations were validated against independent published data from both dairy and beef cattle consuming a wide range of diets. A concordance of 0.62 suggests these equations may be applicable for predicting methane yield from all cattle and not just dairy cows, with root mean-square error of prediction of 3.0 g CH4/kg dry matter intake.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 891 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Moate ◽  
S. R. O. Williams ◽  
M. H. Deighton ◽  
M. C. Hannah ◽  
B. E. Ribaux ◽  
...  

There has been little research that has quantified methane (CH4) yields when dairy cows consume diets containing wheat grain. Furthermore, although rumen-fistulated animals have been used in many experiments concerned with measuring CH4 emissions, no research has examined the effect of rumen fistulation on in vivo CH4 emissions and yield. This experiment examined the effects of including either wheat or corn grain in the diet and the effects of rumen fistulation on yields of milk and milk components, CH4 emissions, yields, and intensities. Eight rumen-fistulated and six non-fistulated Holstein dairy cows in late lactation were offered a wheat-based diet (WHT) and a corn-based diet (CRN) in a crossover design. For the WHT diet, cows were offered daily, 22.4 kg DM containing 45.5% lucerne hay, 8.9% canola meal, 0.5% mineral mix, 0.5% molasses powder and 44.6% rolled wheat. The CRN diet was similar to the WHT diet except that rolled corn replaced the wheat. There was no difference between the WHT and CRN diets on mean milk yields (27.8 vs 27.9 kg/day), but the WHT diet substantially reduced milk fat concentration (2.76 vs 4.23%) and milk fat yield (0.77 vs 1.18 kg/day). Methane emissions (218 vs 424 g/day), CH4 yield (11.1 vs 19.5 g/kg dry matter intake) and CH4 intensity (7.6 vs 15.7 g/kg milk) were all reduced ~45% by the WHT diet compared with the CRN diet. Rumen fistulation did not affect dry matter intake, milk production, milk composition or CH4 emissions, but decreased CH4 yield and intensity. Including wheat in the diet of dairy cows has the potential to be an effective strategy to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, rumen fistulation was associated with a small reduction in CH4 yield and intensity, and this should be considered when using rumen-fistulated cows in research concerned with CH4 emissions.


2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 2620-2628 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.C. Donovan ◽  
D.J. Schingoethe ◽  
R.J. Baer ◽  
J. Ryali ◽  
A.R. Hippen ◽  
...  

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3122
Author(s):  
Jalil Ghassemi Nejad ◽  
Bae-Hun Lee ◽  
Ji-Yung Kim ◽  
Kyung-Il Sung ◽  
Hong-Gu Lee

The effects of grazing lactating cows in mountainous areas for 12 and 24 h compared with the confined indoor system were evaluated by examining the overall milk fatty acid and cortisol. Twenty-one dairy cows were allocated to three treatment groups: (1) control (confined management system in a free-stall barn; TMR based), (2) grazing for 12 h (12hG; TMR plus grazing pasture), and (3) grazing for 24 h (24hG; pasture-based feeding system). Dry matter intake was higher in the control and 12hG groups than in the 24hG group. The yields of total milk and the 3.5% fat-corrected milk were the lowest in the 24hG group. Milk fat was the highest in the 24hG group and higher in 12hG compared with the control group. Milk protein and lactose levels were the highest in the 12hG group. The highest somatic cell count was observed in the 24hG group. The saturated fatty acid levels were higher in the control group compared with the 12hG and 24hG groups. There was no difference in overall mono-unsaturated fatty acids between 12hG and 24hG groups. Poly-unsaturated fatty acids were higher in the 12hG group compared with the control and 24hG groups. There was no difference in omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids among the groups, and omega-3 fatty acids were higher in the 12hG group than in the control group. Milk cortisol was the highest in the 24hG group and higher in the control group compared with the 12hG group. Taken together, grazing for 12 h is advisable for farms that have access to mountainous areas to improve the milk fatty acid profile and decrease the stress levels in high-yielding Holstein lactating cows.


Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1256
Author(s):  
Senén De La Torre-Santos ◽  
Luis J. Royo ◽  
Adela Martínez-Fernández ◽  
Cristina Chocarro ◽  
Fernando Vicente

The optimization of milk production includes a rational use of forages, respect for the environment and offers the best quality to consumers. Milk production based on grass and forages produces healthier milk and it is widely spread throughout the Atlantic arc to maximize milk yield per hectare. However, the mode of offering the grass can have a major influence on milk composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of grass supply mode (grazing, zero-grazing or ensiling) on dairy cows’ performance, with particular reference to fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants concentration. A three by three Latin square experiment was performed with 18 dairy cows. Experimental treatments consisted of exclusive feeding with grass silage and zero-grazing, both offered ad libitum indoors, or grazing for 24 h. The results showed that grazing cows had a higher dry matter intake and greater milk yield than cows feeding on grass silage and zero-grazing, as well as higher concentrations of protein, lactose, nonfat-solids and urea in milk than housed cows. Milk fat from grazing cows had a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids than from cows feeding on grass silage and zero-grazing, with significant differences in the proportion of vaccenic and rumenic acids. The 18:1 trans-11 to 18:1 trans-10 ratio is proposed as biomarker to identify the milk produced from the management system of grazing cattle. Milk from grazing cows had a greater proportion of lutein than cows eating grass silage, with the zero-grazing system having intermediate values. In conclusion, the mode of grass supply affects fatty acid and antioxidant profiles of milk.


2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pešek ◽  
E. Samková ◽  
J. Špička

In 2003, 2004 and 2005 milk fat composition was determined three times in 55 dairy cows of Czech Pied cattle housed in a byre with stanchions and fed under conditions usual on Czech production farms. Fatty acids were determined by a gas chromatographic method, 26 acids out of the total 37 acids observed in chromatograms were identified. The highest proportions were observed for palmitic acid (29.25 &plusmn; 2.98%), oleic acid (24.47 &plusmn; 3.27%), myristic acid (12.14 &plusmn; 1.80%) and stearic acid (8.91 &plusmn; 2.44%). The proportions of saturated, unsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were 64.71 &plusmn; 4.18, 31.96 &plusmn; 4.20 and 27.45 &plusmn; 3.42% of total acids, respectively. The total proportion of nutritionally undesirable lauric, myristic and palmitic acid was 45.26 &plusmn; 4.77%, while that of the desirable group of polyunsaturated fatty acids was 4.51 &plusmn; 1.09%. The observed relatively wide ranges of the individual groups of fatty acids indicate that it is possible to improve the milk fat composition in Czech Pied cows. &nbsp;


2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasja Kälber ◽  
Michael Kreuzer ◽  
Florian Leiber

Fresh buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and chicory (Cichorium intybus) had been shown to have the potential to improve certain milk quality traits when fed as forages to dairy cows. However, the process of ensiling might alter these properties. In the present study, two silages, prepared from mixtures of buckwheat or chicory and ryegrass, were compared with pure ryegrass silage (Lolium multiflorum) by feeding to 3 × 6 late-lactating cows. The dietary dry matter proportions realised for buckwheat and chicory were 0·46 and 0·34 accounting also for 2 kg/d of concentrate. Data and samples were collected from days 10 to 15 of treatment feeding. Buckwheat silage was richest in condensed tannins. Proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and α-linoleic acid in total fatty acids (FA) were highest in the ryegrass silage. Feed intake, milk yield and milk gross composition did not differ among the groups. Feeding buckwheat resulted in the highest milk fat concentrations (g/kg) of linoleic acid (15·7) and total PUFA (40·5; bothP < 0·05 compared with ryegrass). The concentration of α-linolenic acid in milk fat was similar across treatments, but its apparent recovery in milk relative to the amounts ingested was highest with buckwheat. The same was true for the occurrence of FA biohydrogenation products in milk relative to α-linolenic acid intake. Recovery of dietary linoleic acid in milk remained unaffected. Feeding buckwheat silage shortened rennet coagulation time by 26% and tended (P < 0·1) to increase curd firmness by 29%. In conclusion, particularly buckwheat silage seems to have a certain potential to modify the transfer of FA from feed to milk and to contribute to improved cheese-making properties.


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