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

Max Eckert, Matt Bell, Sarah Potterton, Jim Craigon, Neil Saunders, Ruth Wilcox, Morag Hunter, Jennifer Goodman and Phil Garnsworthy
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Max Eckert: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
Matt Bell: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
Sarah Potterton: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
Jim Craigon: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
Neil Saunders: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
Ruth Wilcox: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
Morag Hunter: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
Jennifer Goodman: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
Phil Garnsworthy: School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, The University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK

Land, 2018, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of feeding system on diurnal enteric methane (CH 4 ) emissions from individual cows on commercial farms. Data were obtained from 830 cows across 12 farms, and data collated included production records, CH 4 measurements (in the breath of cows using CH 4 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 CH 4 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 CH 4 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 CH 4 emissions whilst cows are milked can be used to assess the effects of feeding system and potentially benchmark farms on level of emissions.

Keywords: cattle; greenhouse gas; measurements; diet; variation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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