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Library Effect of Feeding System on Enteric Methane Emissions from Individual Dairy Cows on Commercial Farms

Effect of Feeding System on Enteric Methane Emissions from Individual Dairy Cows on Commercial Farms

Effect of Feeding System on Enteric Methane Emissions from Individual Dairy Cows on Commercial Farms

Resource information

ISBN / Resource ID
10.3390/land7010026
License of the resource

This study investigated the effects of feeding system on diurnal enteric methane (CH4) emissions from individual cows on commercial farms. Data were obtained from 830 cows across 12 farms, and data collated included production records, CH4 measurements (in the breath of cows using CH4 analysers at robotic milking stations for at least seven days) and diet composition. Cows received either a partial mixed ration (PMR) or a PMR with grazing. A linear mixed model was used to describe variation in CH4 emissions per individual cow and assess the effect of feeding system. Methane emissions followed a consistent diurnal pattern across both feeding systems, with emissions lowest between 05:00 and 08:59, and with a peak concentration between 17:00 and 20:59. No overall difference in emissions was found between feeding systems studied; however, differences were found in the diurnal pattern of CH4 emissions between feeding systems. The response in emissions to increasing dry matter intake was higher for cows fed PMR with grazing. This study showed that repeated spot measurements of CH4 emissions whilst cows are milked can be used to assess the effects of feeding system and potentially benchmark farms on level of emissions.

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Authors and Publishers

Author(s), editor(s), contributor(s)

Eckert, Max
Bell, Matt
Potterton, Sarah
Craigon, Jim
Saunders, Neil
Wilcox, Ruth
Hunter, Morag
Goodman, Jennifer
Garnsworthy, Phil

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