Potential use of Acacia mearnsii condensed tannins to reduce methane emissions and nitrogen excretion from grazing dairy cows

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Grainger ◽  
T. Clarke ◽  
M J Auldist ◽  
K A Beauchemin ◽  
S M McGinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
High Dose Rate ◽  
Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
N Balance ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Acacia Mearnsii ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Dietary Concentration

We measured the effect of condensed tannins (CT) extracted from the bark of the Black Wattle tree (Acacia mearnsii) on the milk production, methane emissions, nitrogen (N) balance and energy partitioning of lactating dairy cattle. Sixty lactating cows, approximately 32 d in milk grazing ryegrass pasture supplemented with 5 kg d-1 cracked triticale grain, were allocated to three treatments: Control, Tannin 1 (163 g CT d-1) or Tannin 2 (326 g CT d-1 initially, reduced to 244 g d-1 CT by day 17). Cows were dosed twice daily after milking for 5 wk with the powdered CT extract (mixed 1:1 with water). Low and high CT supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) methane emissions by 14 and 29%, respectively (about 10 and 22% on an estimated dry matter intake basis). However, milk production was also reduced by the CT (P < 0.05), especially at the high dose rate. Milk yields were 33.0, 31.8 and 29.8 kg cow-1 d-1. Tannin 2 also caused a 19% decline in fat yield and a 7% decline in protein yield, but protein and lactose contents of milk were not affected by CT supplementation. After the initial 5-wk period, five cows representative of each treatment group were moved to metabolism facilities to determine effects of CT on energy digestion and N balance over 6 d. The energy digestibility was reduced (P < 0.05) from 76.9 (Control) to 70.9 (Tannin 1) and 66.0% (Tannin 2) and the percentage of feed N lost to urine was reduced (P < 0.05) from 39 to 26% and 22% for the respective treatments. The CT also caused a reduction (P < 0.05) in intake during the metabolism study, effectively increasing CT as a percentage of intake. Although CT can be used to reduce methane and urinary N losses from cows fed pastures with a high crude protein (CP) concentration, reduced milk yield in this study suggested the dietary concentration was too high. If CT are to be considered as a means for lowering methane emissions further research is needed to define impacts of lower doses of A. mearnsii CT on methane production and cow productivity. Dairy producers will be reluctant to adopt feeding practices that compromise profitability.Key words: Dairy cow, condensed tannins, methane, milk production, energy, nitrogen balance

scholarly journals Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) Condensed Tannins as Feed Additives to Lactating Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 662
Author(s):  
Andre S. Avila ◽  
Maximiliane A. Zambom ◽  
Andressa Faccenda ◽  
Caroline H. Werle ◽  
Ana R. E. Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Microbial Protein ◽  
Acacia Mearnsii ◽  
Microbial Protein Synthesis ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Black Wattle ◽  
Milk Casein

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of five levels of condensed tannins (CT) from black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) in the diets of lactating dairy cows on intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal microbial protein synthesis, milk production, composition, oxidative profile, and blood metabolites. Five Holstein cows (88 ± 26.8 days in milk) were allocated in a 5 x 5 Latin square design for a period of 20 days (14 days of diet adaptation and six for sampling). Treatments were the inclusion levels of CT at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg of dry matter (DM) in the diet. There was no effect of CT on DM intake. The digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fiber changed quadratically, with the maximum values at 12.2 and 11.4 g/kg of DM, respectively. There was no effect on ruminal microbial protein synthesis and milk production; however, milk casein concentration was reduced linearly. There was no effect on the milk oxidative profile. Inclusion of CT at levels up to 20 g/kg of DM did not affect intake or microbial protein synthesis; however, added CT depressed the production of energy corrected milk and milk casein concentration.

scholarly journals Productivity, Profitability and Nitrogen Utilisation Efficiency of Two Pasture-Based Milk Production Systems Differing in the Milking Frequency and Feeding Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2098
Author(s):  
Martín Correa-Luna ◽  
Daniel Donaghy ◽  
Peter Kemp ◽  
Laurence Shalloo ◽  
Elodie Ruelle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
N Balance ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Milking Frequency ◽  
Supplementary Feed ◽  
Utilisation Efficiency

The aim of this study was to model the productivity, profitability and the nitrogen (N) utilisation efficiency (NUE) of two spring-calving pasture-based milk production systems differing in milking frequency and intensification levels in New Zealand. For this purpose, physical performance data from a low-intensity production system where cows were milked once per day (OAD-LI) and from a high-intensity production system where cows were milked twice per day (TAD-HI) were employed. OAD-LI cows were milked once-daily with a stocking rate (SR) of 2.1 cows/ha and fed diets with low supplementation (304 kg pasture silage/cow) with applications of 134 kg N fertiliser/ha and TAD-HI cows were milked twice-daily with a SR of 2.8 cows/ha and fed diets of higher supplementation (429 kg pasture silage and 1695 kg concentrate/cow) with applications of 87 kg N fertiliser/ha. The Moorepark Dairy System Model was used to evaluate production, economic performance and N balance on an annual basis. Despite the higher feed costs of TAD-HI as more supplementation was utilised, profitability per hectare was 16% higher because more cows were milked with a higher milk yield per cow (milking frequency) when compared to OAD-LI. At the cow level, the NUE was higher in TAD-HI (30% vs. 27%) reflecting the better balanced diet for energy and crude protein and higher milk yields as a result of milking frequency. At the farm scale the NUE was higher (38% vs. 26%) in the TAD-HI due to the losses associated with the imported feed being excluded and higher N captured in milk. These results suggest that milking frequency, the use of feed supplementation and application of N fertiliser as management tools on grazing dairy systems affect productivity, profitability and N balance. Further studies are required to find optimal stocking rates in combination with the use of supplementary feed and N fertiliser application that maximize milk production and profitability for OAD and TAD milking production systems but minimize N losses.

Diet formulation as an effective tool for mitigating nitrogen excretion in dairy systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Hristov
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Ammonia Emissions ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Diet Formulation

Nitrogen (N) losses and ammonia emissions from livestock operations represent a significant water and air pollutant. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that reduction in dietary protein input results in improved N utilization efficiency and reduced N losses with manure in dairy cows. Reducing dietary protein can also benefit the producer by reducing feed cost. These interventions, however, have to be balanced with the risk of decreased productivity. If animal requirements for metabolizable protein (MP) are not met, productivity cannot be sustained. Supplementation with rumen-protected (RP) amino acids (AA) limiting milk production and milk protein synthesis may compensate for the lack of MP in dairy cow diets. Long-term experiments at Penn State University demonstrated reduced urinary N losses, blood urea, milk urea N, and ammonia emissions from manure with MP-deficient v. MP-adequate diets. In some trials, however, milk production and milk protein yield were decreased with the MP-deficient diets. Supplementation of these diets with RPAA (Lys, Met and His) increased dry matter intake and milk yield of the cows to levels comparable with MP-adequate diets and can be a successful strategy for reducing N losses and maintaining productivity in lactating dairy cows fed low-protein diets.

scholarly journals Acacia mearnsii tannin extract as a feed additive: impact on feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen excretion by sheep fed a tropical grass-based diet

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Orlandi ◽  
Claudio Antonio Pozo ◽  
Mariana Patrícia Mezzomo ◽  
Gilberto Vilmar Kozloski
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Feed Additive ◽  
Tannin Extract ◽  
Acacia Mearnsii ◽  
N Retention ◽  
Dietary Concentration ◽  
Tannin Concentration ◽  
Tropical Grass

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of Acacia mearnsii tannin extract (TA) on nutrients intake and digestibility, and nitrogen (N) retention by sheep given a tropical grass-based diet. The trial was conducted with six castrated male sheep in a cross-over design in two 21-days experimental periods. The sheep were housed in metabolic cages and offered Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon dactylon) ad libitum plus concentrate at a rate of 12 g of dry matter (DM)/kg body weight (BW). The treatments were concentrate without (Control) or with 10 g TA/kg DM (Tannin). Concentration of TA in the diet was 3.8 g/kg DM and did not affect the feed intake or apparent digestibility. The TA decreased the true digestibility of n compounds (P<0.05) whereas did not impact the N retention, microbial N flow to the small intestine or the efficiency of rumen microbial protein synthesis. In conclusion, a low dietary concentration of TA did not impact the nutrients supply and N use by sheep fed with a tropical grass-based diet.

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