scholarly journals The Equipment Used in the SF6 Technique to Estimate Methane Emissions Has No Major Effect on Dairy Cow Behavior

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiellen Cristina Pereira ◽  
Dayane Lemos Teixeira ◽  
Laura Ann Boyle ◽  
Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho ◽  
Shaun Richard Owen Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Experimental Diet ◽  
Natural Behavior ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Affiliative Behaviors

The natural behavior of animals can be disrupted by the techniques and materials of research methodologies. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the equipment used in the SF6 tracer technique to estimate enteric methane emissions on the behavior of lactating dairy cows. The cows (n = 24) were allocated to one of two diets: CONTROL and experimental diet (MIX). Behavior was assessed through video recordings between milking times during four phases: 3 days before fitting the cows with the SF6 equipment (PRE), first 2 days after the cows were fitted with the SF6 equipment (ADAP), 3 days during methane emission measurements (MEAS), and 2 days after the SF6 equipment removal (POST). The behaviors recorded included eating, ruminating or idling, resting, and others. Affiliative or agonistic and discomfort behaviors (scratching or pushing the equipment) were also recorded. Lying time was recorded over 14 days using dataloggers fitted to the cows' leg. Milk production and feed intake were recorded daily. MIX cows ruminated more than CONTROL cows (P = 0.05). The cows ruminated more at MEAS than in any other phase (P < 0.01). Time spent idling gradually decreased from PRE to MEAS for MIX cows (P < 0.01). The cows were lying down longer in MEAS than in ADAP and POST (P < 0.01). The time spent lying with the head down was shorter during PRE and ADAP than during POST (P < 0.05). No difference was observed in the occurrence of discomfort or agonistic behaviors (P > 0.05). Affiliative behaviors occurred more often in ADAP than in MEAS (P < 0.05). There was no difference between phases in daily lying time, number of lying bouts per day, or mean bout duration (P > 0.05). Milk production was not influenced by the SF6 equipment (P > 0.05). Dry matter intake was higher for CONTROL cows (P < 0.01), and it decreased from PRE to MEAS (P < 0.01). However, milk yield did not differ between cows wearing the SF6 equipment and those without it (P > 0.05). We conclude that the SF6 equipment had a minimal effect on dairy cow behavior.

Replacement of soyabean meal by barley or wheat distillers grains for lactating dairy cows

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 108-108
Author(s):  
J.D. Sutton ◽  
D.J. Humphries ◽  
R H Phipps ◽  
M. Witt
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Complete Replacement ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Soyabean Meal

The complete replacement of soyabean meal by maize distillers grains (MDG) in dairy cow diets had no significant effects on milk production, rumen digestion or the supply of non-ammonia N to the duodenum (Sutton et al., 2000; Phipps et al., 2001). The present experiment was designed to extend this work by examining the response when barley (BDG) or wheat (WDG) distillers grains replaced soyabean meal.

scholarly journals Reducing the carbon footprint of Australian milk production by mitigation of enteric methane emissions

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Moate ◽  
Matthew H. Deighton ◽  
S. Richard O. Williams ◽  
Jennie E. Pryce ◽  
Ben J. Hayes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Dairy Industry ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Dietary Lipid ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Cow Milk ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

This review examines research aimed at reducing enteric methane emissions from the Australian dairy industry. Calorimeter measurements of 220 forage-fed cows indicate an average methane yield of 21.1 g methane (CH4)/kg dry matter intake. Adoption of this empirical methane yield, rather than the equation currently used in the Australian greenhouse gas inventory, would reduce the methane emissions attributed to the Australian dairy industry by ~10%. Research also indicates that dietary lipid supplements and feeding high amounts of wheat substantially reduce methane emissions. It is estimated that, in 1980, the Australian dairy industry produced ~185 000 t of enteric methane and total enteric methane intensity was ~33.6 g CH4/kg milk. In 2010, the estimated production of enteric methane was 182 000 t, but total enteric methane intensity had declined ~40% to 19.9 g CH4/kg milk. This remarkable decline in methane intensity and the resultant improvement in the carbon footprint of Australian milk production was mainly achieved by increased per-cow milk yield, brought about by the on-farm adoption of research findings related to the feeding and breeding of dairy cows. Options currently available to further reduce the carbon footprint of Australian milk production include the feeding of lipid-rich supplements such as cottonseed, brewers grains, cold-pressed canola, hominy meal and grape marc, as well as feeding of higher rates of wheat. Future technologies for further reducing methane emissions include genetic selection of cows for improved feed conversion to milk or low methane intensity, vaccines to reduce ruminal methanogens and chemical inhibitors of methanogenesis.

scholarly journals Genetic tools to mitigate the environmental impact of milk production systems: Experience with a multi-point individual cow methane measurement system

2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
E. Negussie ◽  
A,-E. Liinamo ◽  
E. A. Mäntysaari ◽  
M. Lidauer
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Sampling Point ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Statistical Measures ◽  
Sampling Points ◽  
Enteric Methane

Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases with about 21 times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide. Methane emission by dairy cows is not only a significant concern for the environment but also represent a loss of energy for milk production. Dairy cows lose 6 to 12% of feed energy and 95% of which is released through mouth as eructated methane. The most important avenue for reducing methane emissions from dairy systems is by improving the productivity and efficiency of dairy cows, through better nutrition and genetics. Attempts to reduce the ecological foot print of milk production require a sound understanding of the genetic basis of methane emissions. This requires reliable techniques for the measurement of methane output from individual cows. Enteric methane from ruminants is an important but often difficult source to quantify on an individual basis. So far, many of the available measurement techniques are either slow, expensive, labor intensive and are unsuitable for large scale measurements which is a prerequisite for genetic studies. This study evaluated a non-invasive Photoacoustic Infrared Spectroscopy (PAS) technique for quantifying enteric methane output from the breath of individual dairy cows. The study was conducted at MTT experimental dairy herd in Minkiö. A total of about 40 first-lactation Finnish Ayrshire cows were included. Individual cow methane, carbon dioxide (CO2), acetone, ammonia outputs were measured continuously over 3 weeks period using a multi-point PAS gas analyzer fitted to two feeding kiosks (sampling points). Whenever a cow visits a feeding kiosk, her breath was sampled and analyzed for the contents of the different gases. Measurements were made alternatively between the two sampling points and every other minute a gas was sampled and analyzed from each. Records from continuous three days measurements were analyzed. There were about 6-14 repeated measurements on each of the different gasses per cow and a total of 1690 and 1908 measurements from sampling point 1 and 2, respectively. Ratio of CH4:CO2 is concentration independent and can be used to quantify methane output in dairy cows. Thus for each cow, CH4:CO2 ratios were calculated using measurements of these gasses. Basic statistical measures were calculated. Between and within individual variability were quantified and the repeatability of CH4:CO2 were estimated using the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure. The overall mean(sd) of CH4:CO2 from kiosk1 and 2 were 0.071(0.049) and 0.073(0.042) and the repeatability of CH4:CO2 were 0.56 and 0.57 for kiosk1 and 2, respectively. Repeatability sets the upper limit to heritability. Compared to other studies, repeatabilities from this study are on the higher side and suggest the suitability of the PAS for individual cow CH4 measurements that is a requisite in genetic studies.

Effects of concentrate supplementation on enteric methane emissions and milk production of grazing dairy cows

2015 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 37-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Muñoz ◽  
Sara Hube ◽  
Jorge M. Morales ◽  
Tianhai Yan ◽  
Emilio M. Ungerfeld
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document