Feeding diets with fodder beet decreased methane emissions from dry and lactating dairy cows in grazing systems
Arjan Jonker A G , David Scobie B , Robyn Dynes B , Grant Edwards C , Cecile De Klein D , Helen Hague C , Russel McAuliffe B , Anna Taylor B , Trevor Knight B and Garry Waghorn E F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Tennent Drive, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
B Lincoln Research Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 4749, Lincoln, New Zealand.
C Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Lincoln University, PO Box 85084, Lincoln, New Zealand.
D Invermay Agricultural Centre, AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand.
E DairyNZ, Cnr Ruakura and Morrrinsville Roads, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
F Present address: Independent Scientist, Hamilton, New Zealand.
G Corresponding author. Email: arjan.jonker@agresearch.co.nz
Animal Production Science 57(7) 1445-1450 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16441
Submitted: 14 July 2016 Accepted: 5 January 2017 Published: 24 February 2017
Abstract
Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) has a very high readily fermentable carbohydrate concentration, which could affect rumen fermentation and reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions. The objective of the current study was to estimate CH4 emissions from dry dairy cows grazing either fodder beet supplemented with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-dominated pasture silage (6 kg DM/cow/day; FB+Sil) or forage kale (Brassica oleracea L.) supplemented with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw (3 kg DM/cow/day; kale+Str; dry cows, Experiment 1), and from dairy cows in early lactation grazing perennial ryegrass-dominated pasture alone (pasture) or supplemented with fodder beet bulbs (3 kg DM/cow/day; past+FB; lactating cows; Experiment 2). Methane measurements were performed using GreenFeed units (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) for 40 days in August–September 2015 (Experiment 1) and for 22 days in November–December 2015 (Experiment 2), from 45 and 31 Holstein–Friesian × Jersey dairy cows in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Dry cows grazing FB+Sil in Experiment 1 produced 18% less CH4 (g/day) and had 28% lower CH4 yield (g/kg DM intake; P < 0.001) than did cows grazing kale+Str. Lactating cows grazing past+FB in Experiment 2 produced 18% less CH4 and had 16% lower CH4 intensity (g/kg fat and protein-corrected milk production; P < 0.01) than did cows grazing pasture alone, while milk production and composition were similar for the two groups. In conclusion, feeding fodder beet at ~50% and 20% of the diet of dry and lactating dairy cows in pastoral systems can mitigate CH4 emissions.
Additional keywords: forage kale, greenhouse gas, readily fermentable carbohydrates, ryegrass pasture, supplement, wintering system.
References
Aguerre MJ, Wattiaux MA, Powell JM, Broderick GA, Arndt C (2011) Effect of forage-to-concentrate ratio in dairy cow diets on emission of methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, lactation performance, and manure excretion. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 3081–3093.| Effect of forage-to-concentrate ratio in dairy cow diets on emission of methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, lactation performance, and manure excretion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXnvFCnsr4%3D&md5=c75c928141b54bc824afe3e4c173ca41CAS |
Bryant RH, Harkin C, Vazathara T, Edwards GR (2013) Effect of post grazing residual and concentrate feeding on milk production in early lactation. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 73, 205–210.
Chakwizira E, de Ruiter JM, Maley S (2015) Effects of nitrogen fertiliser application rate on nitrogen partitioning, nitrogen use efficiency and nutritive value of forage kale. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 58, 259–270.
| Effects of nitrogen fertiliser application rate on nitrogen partitioning, nitrogen use efficiency and nutritive value of forage kale.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXpvVKgtrY%3D&md5=348378813d5ac0df58e5cf5675207973CAS |
Clark H, Brookes IM, Walcroft A (2003) Enteric methane emissions from New Zealand ruminants 1990–2001 calculated using IPPC tier 2 approach. Report prepared for Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Wellington, New Zealand.
CSIRO (1990) ‘Feeding standards for Australian livestock. Ruminants.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Di HJ, Cameron KC, Podolyan A, Edwards GR, de Klein CAM, Dynes R, Woods R (2016) The potential of using alternative pastures, forage crops and gibberellic acid to mitigate nitrous oxide emissions. Journal of Soils and Sediments 16, 2252–2262.
| The potential of using alternative pastures, forage crops and gibberellic acid to mitigate nitrous oxide emissions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28XoslWlsbY%3D&md5=5b9209c10a9271a1a369ed05727f963fCAS |
Edwards GR, De Ruiter JM, Dalley DE, Pinxterhuis JB, Cameron KC, Bryant RH, Di HJ, Malcolm BJ, Chapman DF (2014a) Dry matter intake and body condition score change of dairy cows grazing fodder beet, kale and kale-oat forage systems in winter. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 76, 81–88.
Edwards GR, De Ruiter JM, Dalley DE, Pinxterhuis JB, Cameron KC, Bryant RH, Di HJ, Malcolm BJ, Chapman DF (2014b) Urinary nitrogen concentration of cows grazing fodder beet, kale and kale–oat forage systems in winter. In ‘Proceedings of the 6th Australasian dairy science symposium’, 19–21 November 2014, Hamilton, New Zealand. pp. 144–147. (Australasian Dairy Science Symposium)
Gibbs SJ (2011) Wintering dairy cows on fodder beet. In ‘Proceedings of the South Island dairy event’, Invercargill, New Zealand. Paper 4.1. (South Island Dairy Event, Lincoln University: Lincoln, NZ) Available at http://side.org.nz/past-proceedings/ [Verified 13 February 2017]
Gibbs SJ, Saldias B (2014) Fodder beet in New Zealand dairy industry. In ‘Proceedings of the South Island dairy event’, Invercargill, New Zealand. Paper 4.3. (South Island Dairy Event, Lincoln University: Lincoln, NZ) Available at http://side.org.nz/past-proceedings/ [Verified 13 February 2017]
Greenwood SL, Dalley DE, Purdie NG, Rugoho I, Bryant RH, Edwards GR (2011) Comparison of the performance of dairy cows offered energy supplements prior to drying off and kale at high and low allowance during the dry period in winter. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 71, 33–36.
Hammond KJ, Muetzel S, Waghorn GC, Pinares-Patiño CS, Burke JL, Hoskin SO (2009) The variation in methane emissions from sheep and cattle is not explained by the chemical composition of ryegrass. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 69, 174–178.
Hammond KJ, Waghorn GC, Hegarty RS (2016) The GreenFeed system for measurement of enteric methane emission from cattle. Animal Production Science 56, 181–189.
| The GreenFeed system for measurement of enteric methane emission from cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28Xis1amsbg%3D&md5=64b4ae39685fac7c62b96658412f7747CAS |
Herd RM, Arthur PF, Donoghue KA, Bird SH, Bird-Gardiner T, Hegarty RS (2014) Measures of methane production and their phenotypic relationships with dry matter intake, growth, and body composition traits in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 92, 5267–5274.
| Measures of methane production and their phenotypic relationships with dry matter intake, growth, and body composition traits in beef cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXitlartw%3D%3D&md5=a00c4bfd8b044df1b3816d08f699b212CAS |
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.
| Comparison of methods to determine methane emissions from dairy cows in farm conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXktlSrsbc%3D&md5=072399e36d0b64fa38dcfd6b062791c8CAS |
Janssen PH (2010) Influence of hydrogen on rumen methane formation and fermentation balances through microbial growth kinetics and fermentation thermodynamics. Animal Feed Science and Technology 160, 1–22.
| Influence of hydrogen on rumen methane formation and fermentation balances through microbial growth kinetics and fermentation thermodynamics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtV2itLvF&md5=024541800cc774495ebafe4377ddf8fcCAS |
Jenkinson BA, Edwards GR, Bryant RH (2014) Grazing behaviour, dry matter intake and urination pattern of dairy cows offered kale or fodder beet in winter. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 74, 23–28.
Jiao HP, Dale AJ, Carson AF, Murray S, Gordon AW, Ferris CP (2014) Effect of concentrate feed level on methane emissions from grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 97, 7043–7053.
| Effect of concentrate feed level on methane emissions from grazing dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhsVOhs7vO&md5=5797bc4ae4ede1b24df49196a6a2f111CAS |
Jonker A, Molano G, Antwi C, Waghorn GC (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.
| 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.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhtlaktLnF&md5=651a6d3d03ad907b5675e07aeb454ea2CAS |
Jonker A, Lowe K, Kittelmann S, Janssen PH, Ledgard S, Pacheco D (2016a) Methane emissions changed nonlinearly with graded substitution of alfalfa silage with corn silage and corn grain in the diet of sheep and relation with rumen fermentation characteristics in vivo and in vitro. Journal of Animal Science 94, 3464–3475.
| Methane emissions changed nonlinearly with graded substitution of alfalfa silage with corn silage and corn grain in the diet of sheep and relation with rumen fermentation characteristics in vivo and in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28XhvVylt7fP&md5=aa67e594509312f9c8c7b4779391b3c9CAS |
Jonker A, Molano G, Antwi C, Waghorn GC (2016b) Enteric methane and carbon dioxide emissions measured using respiration chambers, the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique, and a GreenFeed head-chamber system from beef heifers fed alfalfa silage at three allowances and four feeding frequencies. Journal of Animal Science 94, 4326–4337.
| Enteric methane and carbon dioxide emissions measured using respiration chambers, the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique, and a GreenFeed head-chamber system from beef heifers fed alfalfa silage at three allowances and four feeding frequencies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2sXhsFKlsrk%3D&md5=ab3469dc411fd371529be3bc1fa6affbCAS |
Jonker A, Molano G, Koolaard J, Muetzel S (2017) Methane emissions from lactating and non-lactating dairy cows and growing cattle fed fresh pasture. Animal Production Science 57, 643–648.
| Methane emissions from lactating and non-lactating dairy cows and growing cattle fed fresh pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Judson HG, Edwards GR (2008) Survey of management practices of dairy cows grazing kale in Canterbury. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 70, 249–254.
McIlmoyle DG, Patterson DC, Kilpatrick DJ (2000) The effect of fodder beet inclusion on nitrogen and energy utilisation of grass silage based diets by beef steers. In ‘Proceedings of British Society of Animal Science’, March 2000, Scarborough, UK. p. 73. (British Society of Animal Science: Penicuik, UK)
MfE (2015) ‘New Zealand‘s greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2013.’ Ref. ME 1195. (Ministry for the Environment: Wellington, New Zealand)
Müller HL, Sax J, Kirchgessner M (1980) Energieverluste über Kot, Harn und Methan durch unterschiedliche Häufigkeit der Fütterung bei nichtlaktierenden und laktierenden Kühen. Zeitschrift fur Tierphysiologie, Tierernahrung und Futtermittelkunde 44, 181–189.
| Energieverluste über Kot, Harn und Methan durch unterschiedliche Häufigkeit der Fütterung bei nichtlaktierenden und laktierenden Kühen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pérez-Ramírez E, Peyraud JL, Delagarde R (2009) Restricting daily time at pasture at low and high pasture allowance: effects on pasture intake and behavioral adaptation of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 3331–3340.
| Restricting daily time at pasture at low and high pasture allowance: effects on pasture intake and behavioral adaptation of lactating dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Prendergast SL, Gibbs SJ (2015) A comparison of microbial protein synthesis in beef steers fed ad libitum winter ryegrass or fodder beet. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 75, 251–256.
Rugoho I, Gibbs SJ, Edwards GR (2014) Dry matter intake and body condition score gain of dairy cows offered kale and grass. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 110–121.
| Dry matter intake and body condition score gain of dairy cows offered kale and grass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXpt12ktbo%3D&md5=2296c0cdf26ce8c9a6f1979a99dce380CAS |
Sauvant D, Giger-Reverdin S (2009) Modélisation des interactions digestives et de la production de méthane chez les ruminants. Productions Animales 22, 375–384.
Subnel AP, Meijer RG, van Straalen WM, Tamminga S (1994) Efficiency of milk protein production in the DVE protein evaluation system. Livestock Production Science 40, 215–224.
| Efficiency of milk protein production in the DVE protein evaluation system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sun XZ, Waghorn GC, Hoskin SO, Harrison SJ, Muetzel S, Pacheco D (2012) Methane emissions from sheep fed fresh brassicas (Brassica spp.) compared to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Animal Feed Science and Technology 176, 107–116.
| Methane emissions from sheep fed fresh brassicas (Brassica spp.) compared to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhtVykt7zE&md5=8772cd057cf2622ab99d57fbdb119638CAS |
Swainson N, Martin C, Muetzel S, Pinares-Patiño CS (2011) Hydrogen emissions from sheep: a spill-over for methanogenesis? Advances in Animal Biosciences 2, 531
Waghorn GC, Jonker A, Macdonald KA (2016) Measuring methane from grazing dairy cows using GreenFeed. Animal Production Science 56, 252–257.
| Measuring methane from grazing dairy cows using GreenFeed.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28Xis1amtbs%3D&md5=26cbf9e792b4ac0f9ac5c98fa188f63dCAS |
Warner D, Podesta SC, Hatew B, Klop G, van Laar H, Bannink A, Dijkstra J (2015) Effect of nitrogen fertilization rate and regrowth interval of grass herbage on methane emission of zero-grazing lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 98, 3383–3393.
| Effect of nitrogen fertilization rate and regrowth interval of grass herbage on methane emission of zero-grazing lactating dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXktlSrsb0%3D&md5=5939e3fdddc189c012c556626b5773aaCAS |
Yan T, Mayne CS, Gordon FG, Porter MG, Agnew RE, Patterson DC, Ferris CP, Kilpatrick DJ (2010) Mitigation of enteric methane emissions through improving efficiency of energy utilization and productivity in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 2630–2638.
| Mitigation of enteric methane emissions through improving efficiency of energy utilization and productivity in lactating dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtVahs7nJ&md5=87b87113c261487963afb56caee58c1fCAS |
