scholarly journals Effect of dairy cow genotype and concentrate feed level on cow performance and enteric methane emissions during grazing

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad Peter Ferris ◽  
Haopeng Jiao ◽  
Stephen Murray ◽  
Alan Gordon ◽  
Scott Laidlaw

The current study (40 cows in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement) compared methane (CH4) emissions from two dairy cow genotypes (Holstein-Friesian [HF], and Swedish Red × [Jersey × Holstein-Friesian] [Crossbred]) offered two levels of concentrate supplementation (3.0 or 6.0 kg/cow per day) while grazing. Enteric CH4 emissions were measured using the SF6 technique on three occasions over a 16 week period, while intakes were estimated using performance data. Increasing concentrate level increased milk and energy corrected milk (ECM) yields, had no effect on CH4 emissions (g day-1) and CH4 emissions per kg dry matter (DM) intake, while reducing CH4/ECM yield. Crossbreds produced milk with higher milk fat and protein contents than HF cows, but ECM yield did not differ between genotypes. Daily CH4 production (g day-1), and CH4 production per kg ECM yield was unaffected by genotype. Methane yield (g kg-1 DM intake) was higher with the Crossbred cows, although DM intake was estimated in this study, and this result should be interpreted with some caution. Thus HF and Crossbred cows had similar CH4 emissions.

2001 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Delaby ◽  
J. L. Peyraud ◽  
R. Delagarde

AbstractIn order to establish the response of dairy cow performance to concentrate supplementation in contrasting grazing conditions and for cows differing in milk yield at turn-out, three experiments were conducted. Each year, two levels of herbage allowance were studied in interaction with four (experiment 1) or three (experiments 2 and 3) levels of concentrate on two groups of 30 to 40 mid-lactation Holstein cows producing between 20 and 46 kg milk at turnout. Amount of concentrate and herbage allowance ranged from 0 to 6 kg fresh weight and from 12 to 22 kg dry matter (DM) per cow per day respectively. The supplementation led to average responses, per kg DM concentrate, of 104 kg milk, +66 g/day body-weight gain, +0·19 g/kg milk protein and -0·57 g/kg milk fat. These responses remained linear up to 4 or 6 kg according to the years and treatments. The response to the concentrate did not vary with the milk yield or composition at turn-out. The increase in the herbage allowance from 12 to 16 kg DM per cow per day (experiment 1) improved milk yield (+1·2 kg/day) and milk protein (+0·7 g/kg) while the increase from 16 to 22 kg DM (experiments 2 and 3) had less effect (+0·5 kg/day milk yield and +0·4 g/kg milk protein). There was no clear interaction between concentrate supplementation and herbage allowance. Under the usual conditions of spring pasture, with cows in mid lactation, the use of a constant level of concentrate at grazing proves to be a technique of some interest.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Linnane ◽  
B. Horan ◽  
J. Connolly ◽  
P. O'Connor ◽  
F. Buckley ◽  
...  

AbstractA comparative study of grazing behaviour, herbage intake and milk production was conducted using three strains of Holstein-Friesian (HF) heifer : 33 high production North American (HP), 33 high durability North American (HD) and 33 New Zealand (NZ) animals. Heifers were assigned, within strain, to one of three grass-based feeding systems : (1) the Moorepark (control) system (MP), (2) a high concentrate system (HC), (3) a high stocking rate system (HS). Strain of HF had no significant effect on grazing time or number of grazing bouts. The NZ strain had longer grazing bouts (P< 0.01) and spent a lower proportion of time ruminating (P< 0.05) than both the HP and HD strains. There was a significant strain ✕ feeding system interaction for biting rate. The biting rate of the NZ strain was reduced in the HC system. Biting rates in the HS feeding system were significantly higher (P< 0.001) than in the MP system. Heifers on HC had shorter grazing time (P< 0.01) with grazing bouts of shorter duration (P< 0.01). Increasing stocking rate (HS) decreased the proportion of time ruminating (P< 0.001) and tended to shorten grazing bouts (P = 0.06). The HP strain had higher (P< 0.05) herbage and total dry matter (DM) intakes than the NZ strain, while the HD strain was intermediate. Concentrate supplementation reduced (P< 0.001) herbage DM intake but increased (P< 0.001) total DM intake. The reduction of herbage DM intake per kg of concentrate DM intake (substitution rate) was greater for the NZ than the HP strain. The HP produced significantly higher milk, fat, protein and lactose yields than the NZ, while the HD strain was intermediate. The milk fat content of the NZ was higher than both the HP and HD strains, while the protein content was higher than the HP strain. Concentrate supplementation (HC v . MP) significantly increased yields of milk and milk components. Milk production responses to the HC system were much greater with the HP than the NZ strain. Increasing stocking rate (MP v . HS) significantly decreased milk protein yield. The results indicate that the choice of strain of HF may depend on the feeding system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1383-1388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Breanna M Roque ◽  
Henk J Van Lingen ◽  
Hilde Vrancken ◽  
Ermias Kebreab

Abstract: Enteric methane (CH4) production is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock globally with beef cattle contributing 5.95% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Various mitigation strategies have been developed to reduce enteric emissions with limited success. In vitro studies have shown a reduction in CH4 emissions when using garlic and citrus extracts. However, there is paucity of data regarding in vivo studies investigating the effect of garlic and citrus extracts in cattle. The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the response of Angus × Hereford cross steers consuming the feed additive Mootral, which contains extracts of both garlic and citrus, on CH4 yield (g/kg dry matter intake [DMI]). Twenty steers were randomly assigned to two treatments: control (no additive) and Mootral supplied at 15 g/d in a completely randomized design with a 2-wk covariate and a 12-wk data collection periods. Enteric CH4 emissions were measured using the GreenFeed system during the covariate period and experimental weeks 2, 6, 9, and 12. CH4 yield (g/kg DMI) by steers remained similar in both treatments for weeks 2 to 9. In week 12, there was a significant decrease in CH4 yield (23.2%) in treatment compared to control steers mainly because the steers were consuming all the pellets containing the additive. However, overall CH4 yield (g/kg DMI) during the entire experimental period was not significantly different. Carbon dioxide yield (g/kg DMI) and oxygen consumption (g/kg DMI) did not differ between treatments during the entire experimental period. DMI, average daily gain, and feed efficiency also remained similar in control and supplemented steers. The in vivo results showed that Mootral may have a potential to be used as a feed additive to reduce enteric CH4 production and yield in beef cattle but needs further investigation under various dietary regimen.


Author(s):  
M.J. Gibb ◽  
W.E. Ivings ◽  
J.D. Sutton

In order to understand the complex changes associated with lactation in the dairy cow it is necessary to assess the contribution of the non-carcass components. It has been shown with sheep (Cowan, Robinson, Greenhalgh and McHattie, 1979) that a number of tissues may be mobilised during lactation with a redistribution of tissues particularly towards the gut and udder, and that diet may have a significant effect. Butler-Hogg, Wood and Bines (1985), using Friesian dairy cows showed changes in the weights of guts, internal fat depots (omental, mesenteric and perinephric) and liver with stage of lactation although the number of stages examined was somewhat limited. The present experiment investigates changes in non-carcass component weights at 9 points over the first 29 weeks of lactation and with 3 levels of concentrate supplementation.


Author(s):  
M.M. Abubakar ◽  
P. Rowlinson

The antibiotic Actaplanin is a complex of glycopeptide compounds produced by Actinoplanes missourrensis. When included in feed as a performance enhancer it has been shown to increase milk production of dairy cows (McGuffey et al. 1983). Actaplanin is associated with reduced proportions of acetate and increased proportions of propionate in rumen fluid and a depression in milk fat proportion may result (Clapperton et al. 1987). The aim of the trial reported here was to monitor the effects of feeding 960 mg Actaplanin/head/d to dairy cows throughout two successive lactations.


1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 156-156
Author(s):  
R. Pulido ◽  
J.D. Leaver

The increase of milk yield potential of dairy cows raises a number of questions relating to their management at pasture where the intake potential might be limiting. The interaction of initial milk yield (IMY), sward availability (SH) and level of concentrate supplementation (CI) is largely unknown.Two experiments of 42 and 24 days in spring and midsummer were carried out with 45 and 27 Holstein Friesian cows respectively. In spring, five IMY groups (range 16.9 to 35.5 kg/day) and in midsummer three IMY groups (range 22.2 to 31.8 kg/day) were used. In both periods, three compressed sward height(3 to 5, 5 to 7 and 7 to 9 cm) and three CI (0, 3 and 6 kg/day, with 160 g CP/kg DM, 12.8 MJ ME/kg DM) were used. The grazing area consisted of 7.9 ha of perennial ryegrass which was set stocked. The herbage intake (HDMI) was estimated indirectly from individual cow performance. Grazing time (GT) was recorded for each cow on 24 hour observations. Multiple regression analyses were carried out relating the dependent variables herbage intake, grazing behaviour and milk production to the independent variables (IMY, SH, CI).


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Vyas ◽  
A. Alazzeh ◽  
S. M. McGinn ◽  
T. A. McAllister ◽  
O. M. Harstad ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of Propionibacterium strains to mitigate enteric methane (CH4) emissions in beef heifers fed a mixed diet. An experiment was conducted with 16 ruminally cannulated beef heifers fed a basal diet consisting of 60 : 40 barley silage : barley grain (DM basis). Treatments included: (1) Control, (2) Propionibacterium freudenreichii T114, (3) P. thoenii T159, and (4) P. freudenreichii T54. Strains (1 × 1011 colony forming units) were administered daily directly into the rumen before feeding. No treatment effects were observed for DM intake (P = 0.90), mean ruminal pH (P = 0.50) and total volatile fatty acids (P = 0.44). However, compared with the Control, proportions of individual volatile fatty acids changed with acetate being less with Propionibacterium T159 (P = 0.02), whereas ruminal isobutyrate (P < 0.01) and acetate : propionate ratio (P = 0.04) were greater with Propionibacterium T114. Total daily enteric CH4 production averaged 188 g/day and was not affected by Propionbacterium strains (P = 0.51). Methane yield averaged 22 g/kg of DMI intake and tended to be greater with Propionibacterium strains (P = 0.08). The relative abundance of total Propionibacteria was greater with the inoculation of Propionibacterium T159 relative to the Control heifers (P = 0.04). In conclusion, inoculation of Propionibacterium T159 decreased ruminal acetate proportion and Propionibacterium T114 increased acetate : propionate ratio. However, inoculated strains failed to lower total CH4 emissions possibly due to the inability of Propionibacterium strains to elevate ruminal propionate concentrations.


1992 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Khalili ◽  
T. Varvikko ◽  
S. Crosse

AbstractAn experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of forage type and level of concentrate supplementation on forage intake, diet digestibility and milk production. Twenty-four crossbred cows (Bos taurus × Bos indicus), in early lactation, were allocated to the following six dietary treatments: native grass hay (H) or oat-vetch hay (OV), offered ad libitum, and supplemented with either 0, 2·5 or 5·0 kg per cow per day of a wheat-middling-based concentrate. A four-period, partially balanced, change-over design was used and the treatments were arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial.The daily dry-matter (DM) intake was 640 g (P < 0·001) higher with cows on (H) diets compared with those on OV diets. However, OV diets were more digestible (0·675 v. 0·566, P < 0·001) resulting in 800 g higher (P < 0·05) daily intake of digestible DM. The daily milk yield was 1·24 kg higher (P < 0·001) for cows on OV diets compared with H diets. Milk fat concentration was higher (P < 0·05), but milk protein concentration was lower (P < 0·001) with H diets. The rates of rumen degradation of DM and nitrogen of OV were higher than of H for all incubation periods; similarly the values of the rate constant of DM and nitrogen were greater for OV than for H.The daily DM intake increased by 3·72 kg/day (P < 0·001), when the amount of concentrate increased from 0 to 5·0 kg/day, indicating a minor substitution of basal forage by concentrate. The apparent DM digestibilities of the diets were higher when the diets were supplemented with concentrates. The milk yield increased linearly (P < 0·001), when the level of concentrate supplement increased from 0 to 5 kg, resulting in 0·52 kg more milk per day per kg additional concentrate given.


2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1158-1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Hernandez-Mendo ◽  
J.D. Leaver

The preference of lactating dairy cows for grazed herbage or maize silage (MS), simultaneously offered ad libitum in the field, was examined at two sward heights (SH 4-6 and 8-10cm) and two concentrate levels (CL 0 and 6kg day-1) in a 2x2 factorial arrangement within a completely randomised experimental design. The experiment lasted 35 days and was carried out in spring using 24 multiparous Holstein Friesian cows. On average, the cows proportionately spent more time grazing than eating MS (0.85:0.15) and even though the higher rate of intake (RI) of dry matter (DM) of MS compared with grazed herbage (76 versus 26g DM min-1), the proportion of total DM intake as herbage was higher compared to that of MS (0.56:0.44). The higher crude protein and low fibre content of grazed herbage appeared to have a higher priority of choice than RI, as the cows chose to graze for longer (grazing time 385 min, MS feeding time 67min) despite the lower RI of herbage. The low proportion MS intake indicated that RI was a secondary factor of choice. Concentrate supplementation had a greater depressing effect on herbage intake than on MS intake. These results suggest that the animals reduce the intake of feed with lower RI when the labor associated to eat is decreased. The factors influencing the choice for herbage over maize silage remain unclear.


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