Effects of Dietary Starch Concentration on Milk Production, Nutrient Digestibility, and Methane Emissions in Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows

Rebecca L. Culbertson, Fabian A. Gutiérrez-Oviedo, Pinar Uzun, Nirosh Seneviratne, Ananda B. P. Fontoura, Brianna K. Yau, Josie L. Judge, Amanda N. Davis, Diana C. Reyes and Joseph W. McFadden ()
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Rebecca L. Culbertson: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Fabian A. Gutiérrez-Oviedo: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Pinar Uzun: Food Processing Department, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta 32200, Türkiye
Nirosh Seneviratne: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Ananda B. P. Fontoura: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Brianna K. Yau: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Josie L. Judge: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Amanda N. Davis: Biological Sciences Department, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045, USA
Diana C. Reyes: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Joseph W. McFadden: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-20

Abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the effects of dietary starch concentration on milk production, nutrient digestibility, and methane emissions in lactating dairy cows. Thirty mid-lactation cows were randomly assigned to either a high-neutral-detergent-fiber, low-starch diet (LS; 20.2% starch) or a low-neutral-detergent-fiber, high-starch diet (HS; 25.2% starch) following a 3-week acclimation. The study lasted 8 weeks, with milk sampling and gas measurements conducted weekly during acclimation and at weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. Blood and fecal samples were collected during acclimation and week 8. Compared with LS cows, HS cows produced 1.9 kg/d more energy-corrected milk (4.45% increase), with higher yields of true protein (+0.13 kg/day), lactose (+0.10 kg/day), and total solids (+0.24 kg/day). Dry matter and organic matter digestibility was 4.2 and 4.3% higher, respectively, in the HS group. The milk fatty acid (FA) profile differed, with LS cows having greater mixed FA content and HS cows showing higher de novo FA content and yield. Although methane production tended to be higher in HS cows (+25 g/day), methane yield decreased by 8.8%. Overall, the HS diet improved milk production, nutrient digestibility, and environmental efficiency by reducing methane yield in dairy cows.

Keywords: greenhouse gas; enteric methane; dietary starch; milk composition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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