Abstract
The impact of ruminant greenhouse gas emissions on the environment is an issue of global concern. The differential effect of grain-based concentrate (GBC) feeding and rumination level on the enteric methane output of cows was tested in a pasture-based, automatic milking system (AMS). Two close groups of cows (n=30/group) representing either consistently high (HR; 619.85 ± 8.89 min/d) or low (LR; 472.50 ± 10.22 min/d) rumination animals were selected and assigned to three GBC treatments offering same pasture and 7, 8.5, or 10 kg/d of GBC obtained by the offering of 7 kg/d of grain-based pellet plus 0, 1.5 and 3 kg/d of ground shelled corn (n=10 cows/GBC level). Rumination time, mass flux of methane (QCH4) and carbon dioxide (QCO2), milk production, and dry matter intake (DMI) derived from QCO2 measurements, was recorded and analysed with mixed models for a completely randomised design and structural equation models. Regardless of the level of rumination, there was only a marginal effect of GBC feeding on QCH4. However, evidence for differential effects of DMI on milk production and QCH4 support promising opportunities to reduce yield of QCH4/milk in grazing dairy cows.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Current topics in dairy production |
Place of Publication | Sydney, Australia |
Publisher | Dairy Research Foundation, The University of Sydney |
Pages | 86-91 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Volume | 21 |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2016 |
Event | Dairy Research Foundation Symposium: Current Topics in Dairy Production - Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia Duration: 15 Jun 2016 → 17 Jun 2016 https://sydney.edu.au/vetscience/foundations/drf/2016ProgramFinal.pdf |
Conference
Conference | Dairy Research Foundation Symposium |
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Country/Territory | Australia |
City | Wagga Wagga |
Period | 15/06/16 → 17/06/16 |
Internet address |