Effect of number of measurement days on variance in methane and carbon dioxide emissions measured using GreenFeed units in grazing dairy cows and growing heifers
M. M. Della Rosa
A * , M. A. Khan A , T. J. Bosher A B , P. Maclean A and A. Jonker A *
A
B
Handling Editor: James Hills
Abstract
The minimum number of days needed to measure gas emissions from cattle by using spot sampling methods is the result of the visit frequency, within animal variation and among animal variations.
To estimate (a) the effect of the length of the measurement period on the variation in methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and (b) the number of animals required to detect a difference of 10% between two treatment means for CH4 and CO2.
Gas emissions from 72 dairy cows, supplemented with different concentrate diets, and 72 heifers, weaned at different ages, in two separate experiments, were measured for 3–5 weeks using GreenFeed units. In all four experiments, the animals grazed ryegrass-based pasture. The cows received various concentrate treatments twice daily during milking. The gas emissions in heifers were measured at 280 and 370 days of age. Data from 76 cows and 77 heifers were used in the data analysis. The coefficient of variation (CV) and number of animals required to detect a difference of 10% between the two means were modelled for periods of 3–36 days at 3-day steps.
The CV of CH4 emissions became stable between Days 12 and 18 of measurements in the cows and heifers, respectively (17–37 visits for cows and 43–73 visits for heifers) and then 13–19 cows and 9–11 heifers were required per treatment to detect differences of 10% between means. The CV of CO2 emissions became stable few days earlier than did the CH4 emissions and the variation was smaller.
A minimum of 12 and 18 measurement days are recommended to estimate CH4 emission in grazing lactating cows and heifers respectively, and 9–19 animals per treatment were required to detect differences of 10% between means for the conditions of the current studies.
The current analysis has provided information about among-animal variation of gas emissions when performing GreenFeed measurements with grazing cattle, within the experimental conditions of the data sets used for the current study, which can be used to design future cattle studies.
Keywords: cattle, enteric CH4 measurement, experimental design, grazing systems, greenhouse gases, power analysis, spot samples, visits.
References
Alemu AW, Vyas D, Manafiazar G, Basarab JA, Beauchemin KA (2017) Enteric methane emissions from low– and high–residual feed intake beef heifers measured using GreenFeed and respiration chamber techniques. Journal of Animal Science 95, 3727-3737.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Arthur PF, Barchia IM, Weber C, Bird-Gardiner T, Donoghue KA, Herd RM, Hegarty RS (2017) Optimizing test procedures for estimating daily methane and carbon dioxide emissions in cattle using short-term breath measures. Journal of Animal Science 95, 645-656.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Bennett CP, Ward JF, Jonker A (2021) Can GreenFeed automated emissions monitoring systems measure methane output from young red deer grazing pasture? New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production 81, 93-98.
| Google Scholar |
Benzoni L, Berry D, Dressler E, Hegarty R, Koning L, Mc Donnell C, Mcnaughton L, Ritchie G, Finocchiaro R, Van Breukelen A, García Rodríguez A, Gonzalez-Recio O, Richardson C, Villumsen TM, Gredler-Grandl B (2023) Greenfeed and sniffer standard operating procedure (SOP) in dairy and beef cattle. In ‘Proceedings of the ICAR Conference’. pp. 281–287. (ICAR: Arthur van Schendelstraat 650, 3511 MJ Utrecht, The Netherlands)
Bosher T, Della Rosa MM, Khan MA, Sneddon N, Donaghy D, Jonker A (2024) Methane emissions intensity in grazing dairy cows fed graded levels of concentrate pellets. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 67, 296-302.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Charmley E, Williams SRO, Moate PJ, Hegarty RS, Herd RM, Oddy VH, Reyenga P, Staunton KM, Anderson A, Hannah MC (2016) A universal equation to predict methane production of forage-fed cattle in Australia. Animal Production Science 56, 169-180.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Della Rosa MM, Waghorn GC, Vibart RE, Jonker A (2023a) An assessment of global ruminant methane-emission measurements shows bias relative to contributions of farmed species, populations and among continents. Animal Production Science 63, 201-212.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Della Rosa MM, Duranovich FN, Pacheco D, Sandoval E, Khan MA, Biswas A, Jonker A (2023b) Forage type affects the temporal methane emission profiles in dairy cows fed fresh forages. Animal Feed Science and Technology 298, 115604.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Della Rosa MM, Pacheco D, Sandoval E, Jonker A (2024a) Simulating the number of spot-samples required to estimate the methane to carbon dioxide ratio in lambs and its relationship with methane yield. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 67, 303-313.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Della Rosa MM, Duranovich FN, Pacheco D, Muetzel S, Janssen PH, Jonker A (2024b) Substituting ryegrass-based pasture with graded levels of forage rape in the diet of lambs reduced post-feeding variation in methane emissions. Animal Feed Science and Technology 308, 115862.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Della Rosa MM, Bosher TJ, Khan MA, Sandoval E, Molano G, Dobson Hill B, Duranovich FN, Jonker A (in press) Increasing concentrate feeding level in early lactation dairy cows fed pasture linearly decreased methane yield and intensity. Animal Nutrition. doi:10.2139/ssrn.4846996
Dressler EA, Bormann JM, Weaber RL, Rolf MM (2023) Characterization of the number of spot samples required for quantification of gas fluxes and metabolic heat production from grazing beef cows using a GreenFeed. Journal of Animal Science 101, skad176.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Gerber PJ, Hristov AN, Henderson B, Makkar H, Oh J, Lee C, Meinen R, Montes F, Ott T, Firkins J, Rotz A, Dell C, Adesogan AT, Yang WZ, Tricarico JM, Kebreab E, Waghorn G, Dijkstra J, Oosting S (2013) Technical options for the mitigation of direct methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock: a review. Animal 7, 220-234.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Gunter SA, Bradford JA (2017) Technical Note: Effect of bait delivery interval in an automated head-chamber system on respiration gas estimates when cattle are grazing rangeland. The Professional Animal Scientist 33, 490-497.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Hammond KJ, Humphries DJ, Crompton LA, Green C, Reynolds CK (2015) Methane emissions from cattle: estimates from short-term measurements using a GreenFeed system compared with measurements obtained using respiration chambers or sulphur hexafluoride tracer. Animal Feed Science and Technology 203, 41-52.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Herd RM, Velazco JI, Arthur PF, Hegarty RS (2016) Proxies to adjust methane production rate of beef cattle when the quantity of feed consumed is unknown. Animal Production Science 56, 231-237.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Hristov AN, Melgar A (2020) Short communication: Relationship of dry matter intake with enteric methane emission measured with the GreenFeed system in dairy cows receiving a diet without or with 3-nitrooxypropanol. Animal 14, s484-s490.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Hristov AN, Oh J, Giallongo F, Frederick T, Harper MT, Weeks H, Branco AF, Price WJ, Moate PJ, Deighton MH, Williams SRO, Kindermann M, Duval S (2016) Short communication: comparison of the GreenFeed system with the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique for measuring enteric methane emissions from dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 99, 5461-5465.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Huhtanen P, Cabezas-Garcia EH, Utsumi S, Zimmerman S (2015) Comparison of methods to determine methane emissions from dairy cows in farm conditions. Journal of Dairy Science 98, 3394-3409.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Huhtanen P, Ramin M, Hristov AN (2019) Enteric methane emission can be reliably measured by the GreenFeed monitoring unit. Livestock Science 222, 31-40.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Iqbal MW, Draganova I, Morel PCH, Morris ST (2022) Factors affecting grazing and rumination behaviours of dairy cows in a pasture-based system in New Zealand. Animals 12, 3323.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Iqbal MW, Draganova I, Henry Morel PC, Todd Morris S (2023) Variations in the 24 h temporal patterns and time budgets of grazing, rumination, and idling behaviors in grazing dairy cows in a New Zealand system. Journal of Animal Science 101, skad038.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Jonker A, Molano G, Antwi C, Waghorn G (2014) Feeding lucerne silage to beef cattle at three allowances and four feeding frequencies affects circadian patterns of methane emissions, but not emissions per unit of intake. Animal Production Science 54, 1350-1353.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Jonker A, Scobie D, Dynes R, Edwards G, De Klein C, Hague H, McAuliffe R, Taylor A, Knight T, Waghorn G (2017a) Feeding diets with fodder beet decreased methane emissions from dry and lactating dairy cows in grazing systems. Animal Production Science 57, 1445-1450.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Jonker A, Molano G, Koolaard J, Muetzel S (2017b) Methane emissions from lactating and non-lactating dairy cows and growing cattle fed fresh pasture. Animal Production Science 57, 643-648.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Jonker A, Farrell L, Scobie D, Dynes R, Edwards G, Hague H, McAuliffe R, Taylor A, Knight T, Waghorn G (2019) Methane and carbon dioxide emissions from lactating dairy cows grazing mature ryegrass/white clover or a diverse pasture comprising ryegrass, legumes and herbs. Animal Production Science 59(6), 1063-1069.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Jonker A, Green P, Waghorn G, van der Weerden T, Pacheco D, de Klein C (2020a) A meta-analysis comparing four measurement methods to determine the relationship between methane emissions and dry-matter intake in New Zealand dairy cattle. Animal Production Science 60, 96-101.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Jonker A, Antwi C, Biswas AA, Gunter S, Hristov AN, Martin C, Minnée EMK, Renand G, Waghorn G (2020b) The ‘GreenFeed’ automated methane measurement system to determine enteric methane emissions from ruminants. In ‘Guidelines for estimating methane emissions from individual ruminants using: GreenFeed, ‘sniffers’, hand-held laser detector and portable accumulation chambers’. (Eds A Jonker, GC Waghorn) pp. 17–32. (Ministry for Primary Industries: Wellington, New Zealand)
Kjeldsen MH, Johansen M, Weisbjerg MR, Hellwing ALF, Bannink A, Colombini S, Crompton L, Dijkstra J, Eugène M, Guinguina A, Hristov AN, Huhtanen P, Jonker A, Kreuzer M, Kuhla B, Martin C, Moate PJ, Niu P, Peiren N, Reynolds C, Williams SRO, Lund P (2024) Predicting CO2 production of lactating dairy cows from animal, dietary, and production traits using an international dataset. Journal of Dairy Science 107, 6771-6784.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Madsen J, Bjerg BS, Hvelplund T, Weisbjerg MR, Lund P (2010) Methane and carbon dioxide ratio in excreted air for quantification of the methane production from ruminants. Livestock Science 129, 223-227.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Manafiazar G, Zimmerman S, Basarab J (2016) Repeatability and variability of short-term spot measurement of methane and carbon dioxide emissions from beef cattle using GreenFeed emissions monitoring system. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 97, 118-126.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
McGinn SM, Coulombe J-F, Beauchemin KA (2021) Technical note: validation of the GreenFeed system for measuring enteric gas emissions from cattle. Journal of Animal Science 99, skab046.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Muetzel S, Hannaford R, Jonker A (2024) Effect of animal and diet parameters on methane emissions for pasture-fed cattle. Animal Production Science 64, AN23049.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Pereira ABD, Utsumi SA, Dorich CD, Brito AF (2015) Integrating spot short-term measurements of carbon emissions and backward dietary energy partition calculations to estimate intake in lactating dairy cows fed ad libitum or restricted. Journal of Dairy Science 98, 8913-8925.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
R Core Team (2023) R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. Available at https://wwwR-projectorg/
Renand G, Maupetit D (2016) Assessing individual differences in enteric methane emission among beef heifers using the GreenFeed Emission Monitoring system: effect of the length of testing period on precision. Animal Production Science 56, 218-223.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Rogelj J, Shindell D, Jiang, K (2018) Mitigation pathways compatible with 1.5°C in the context of sustainable development. In ‘Global warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change’. (Eds V Masson-Delmotte, P Zhai, H-O Pörtner, et al.) pp. 93–174. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Geneva, Switzerland)
Rook AJ, Tallowin JRB (2003) Grazing and pasture management for biodiversity benefit. Animal Research 52, 181-189.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Starsmore K, Lopez-Villalobos N, Shalloo L, Egan M, Burke J, Lahart B (2024) Animal factors that affect enteric methane production measured using the GreenFeed monitoring system in grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 107, 2930-2940.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Velazco JI, Herd RM, Cottle DJ, Hegarty RS (2017) Daily methane emissions and emission intensity of grazing beef cattle genetically divergent for residual feed intake. Animal Production Science 57, 627-635.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Waghorn GC, Jonker A, Macdonald KA (2016) Measuring methane from grazing dairy cows using GreenFeed. Animal Production Science 56, 252-257.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
