Methane emissions of dairy cows cannot be predicted by the concentrations of C8:0 and total C18 fatty acids in milk
S. R. O. Williams A B , P. J. Moate A , M. H. Deighton A , M. C. Hannah A and W. J. Wales AA Department of Environment and Primary Industries, 1301 Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank, Vic. 3821, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: richard.williams@depi.vic.gov.au
Animal Production Science 54(10) 1757-1761 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14292
Submitted: 13 March 2014 Accepted: 26 June 2014 Published: 19 August 2014
Abstract
Methane (CH4) emissions from dairy cows are technically difficult and expensive to measure. Recently, some researchers have found correlations between the concentrations of specific fatty acids in milk fat and the CH4 emissions from cows that could obviate the need for direct measurement. In this research, data on individual cow CH4 emissions and concentration of caprylic acid (C8:0) and total C18 fatty acids in milk were collated from eight experiments involving 27 forage-based diets and 246 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Linear regressions between CH4 and both C8:0 and total C18 in milk were produced for published data and used to calculate 95% prediction regions for a new observation. The proportion of observed methane emissions from eight experiments that fell outside the 95% prediction region was 27.6% for the C8:0 model and 26.3% for the total C18 model. Neither model predicted CH4 emission well with Lin’s coefficient of concordance of less than 0.4 and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of approximately zero for both the C8:0 and total C18 models. In addition, general linear model analysis showed significant differences between experiments in their intercepts (P < 0.001) and slopes (P < 0.001). It is concluded that the relationships tested cannot be used to accurately predict CH4 emissions when cows are fed a wide range of diets.
Additional keywords: lactation, methane measurement, ruminants.
References
Chilliard Y, Martin C, Rouel J, Doreau M (2009) Milk fatty acids in dairy cows fed whole crude linseed, extruded linseed, or linseed oil, and their relationship with methane output. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 5199–5211.| Milk fatty acids in dairy cows fed whole crude linseed, extruded linseed, or linseed oil, and their relationship with methane output.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtF2qtrfE&md5=326bb6eb6476d39f8933e07f0dd02090CAS | 19762838PubMed |
Dijkstra J, van Zijderveld SM, Apajalahti JA, Bannink A, Gerrits WJJ, Newbold JR, Perdok HB, Berends H (2011) Relationships between methane production and milk fatty acid profiles in dairy cattle. Animal Feed Science and Technology 166–167, 590–595.
| Relationships between methane production and milk fatty acid profiles in dairy cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
International Dairy Federation (1987) Milk: Determination of fat content – Rose Gottlieb gravimetric method (reference method). In ‘International Dairy Federation Standard’.(International Dairy Federation: Brussels, Belgium)
Moate PJ, Chalupa W, Jenkins TC, Boston RC (2004) A model to describe ruminal metabolism and intestinal absorption of LCFA in dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology 112, 79–105.
| A model to describe ruminal metabolism and intestinal absorption of LCFA in dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXmvFymtg%3D%3D&md5=16f0aba352dd28083765552b7f60f9d0CAS |
Moate PJ, Chalupa W, Boston RC, Lean IJ (2008) Milk fatty acids II: prediction of the production of individual fatty acids in bovine milk. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 1175–1188.
| Milk fatty acids II: prediction of the production of individual fatty acids in bovine milk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXivFemtb0%3D&md5=ae120009b778c39b9da2c5fb73b049c3CAS | 18292274PubMed |
Moate PJ, Williams SRO, Grainger G, Hannah MC, Ponnampalam EN, Eckard RJ (2011) Comparison of cold-pressed canola, brewers grains and hominy meal as dietary supplements suitable for reducing enteric methane emissions from lactating dairy cows. Journal of Animal Feed Science and Technology 166–167, 254–264.
| Comparison of cold-pressed canola, brewers grains and hominy meal as dietary supplements suitable for reducing enteric methane emissions from lactating dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moate PJ, Williams SRO, Hannah MC, Eckard RJ, Auldist MJ, Ribaux BE, Jacobs JL, Wales WJ (2013) Effects of feeding algal meal high in docosahexaenoic acid on feed intake, milk production, and methane emissions in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 3177–3188.
| Effects of feeding algal meal high in docosahexaenoic acid on feed intake, milk production, and methane emissions in dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXktFaksb8%3D&md5=84c75491ec41f5250d5a4e0cf939279bCAS | 23498011PubMed |
Mohammed R, McGinn SM, Beauchemin KA (2011) Prediction of enteric methane output from milk fatty acid concentrations and rumen fermentation parameters in dairy cows fed sunflower, flax, or canola seeds. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 6057–6068.
| Prediction of enteric methane output from milk fatty acid concentrations and rumen fermentation parameters in dairy cows fed sunflower, flax, or canola seeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhsFClsbrF&md5=858b45b8bf3c1463e02d25e7453ab0e8CAS | 22118093PubMed |
Odongo NE, Or-Rashid MM, Kebreab E, France J, McBride BW (2007) Effect of supplementing myristic acid in dairy cow rations on ruminal methanogenesis and fatty acid profile in milk. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 1851–1858.
| Effect of supplementing myristic acid in dairy cow rations on ruminal methanogenesis and fatty acid profile in milk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXjs1ahs7Y%3D&md5=135824cef07fb57098d1847558e0c994CAS | 17369226PubMed |
Palmquist DL, Beaulieu AD, Barbano DM (1993) Feed and animal factors influencing milk fat composition. Journal of Dairy Science 76, 1753–1771.
| Feed and animal factors influencing milk fat composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK3szhsFOisA%3D%3D&md5=1dc00513cbe0f960b5af33edbbce282dCAS | 8326036PubMed |
Slover HT, Lanza E (1979) Quantitative analysis of food fatty acids by capillary gas chromatography. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society 56, 933–934.
Williams SRO, Moate PJ, Hannah MC, Ribaux BE, Wales WJ, Eckard RJ (2011) Background matters with the SF6 tracer method for estimating enteric methane emissions from dairy cows: a critical review. Animal Feed Science and Technology 170, 265–276.
| Background matters with the SF6 tracer method for estimating enteric methane emissions from dairy cows: a critical review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhsVOrurfJ&md5=317ed9c2f0981110cca01e3045818b58CAS |
Williams SRO, Clarke T, Hannah MC, Marett LC, Moate PJ, Auldist MJ, Wales WJ (2013) Energy partitioning in herbage-fed dairy cows offered supplementary grain during an extended lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 484–494.
| Energy partitioning in herbage-fed dairy cows offered supplementary grain during an extended lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvV2ktbfL&md5=311940c8861e0adf3fd5c9299e431520CAS |
