Substitution of corn silage with sorghum silages in lactating cow diets: In vivo methane emission and global warming potential of milk production

Stefania Colombini, Maddalena Zucali, Luca Rapetti, G. Matteo Crovetto, Anna Sandrucci and Luciana Bava

Agricultural Systems, 2015, vol. 136, issue C, 106-113

Abstract: A study was conducted to determine whether sorghum silage can be a valid alternative to corn silage in lactating cow rations in terms of enteric CH4 production and global warming potential (GWP) per milk unit. Diets containing corn (CS), whole plant grain sorghum (WPGS) or forage sorghum (FS) silages were fed to 6 primiparous Italian Friesian cows in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Diets were balanced to have 36.0 and 26.0% DM of NDF and starch, respectively. In each period cows were placed in individual respiration chambers to register CH4 production. The GWP of milk production in the three different forage systems was evaluated through a “cradle to farm-gate” Life Cycle Assessment. All the emissions related to on-farm activities (forage production, fuel and electricity consumptions, manure and livestock management), off-farm activities (production of fertilizers, pesticides, bedding materials, purchased forages, concentrate feed, replacement animals, electricity, fuel) and transportation were considered. The functional unit was 1 kg FPCM. Enteric emission of CH4 from cows was obtained with an in vivo experiment or predicted using an equation based on gross energy intake and on dietary NDF and ether extract.

Keywords: Milk; Sorghum silage; Methane; Global warming potential; LCA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agisys:v:136:y:2015:i:c:p:106-113

DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2015.02.006

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