Methane Emissions and Milk Fatty Acid Profiles in Dairy Cows Fed Linseed, Measured at the Group Level in a Naturally Ventilated Housing and Individually in Respiration Chambers
2020
Jernej Poteko | Sabine Schrade | Kerstin Zeyer | Joachim Mohn | Michael Zaehner | Johanna O. Zeitz | Michael Kreuzer | Angela Schwarm
The present study evaluated the effects of linseed supplementation on CH<sub>4</sub> emission and milk fatty acid composition in dairy cows measured at the group level in an experimental dairy loose housing using a tracer gas technique and individually in tied stalls and respiration chambers. Cows (2 × 20) were maintained in two separate sections under loose-housing conditions and received a diet supplemented with extruded linseed (L) lipids (29 g·kg<sup>−1</sup> dry matter) or a control (C) diet containing corn flour. Subsequently, 2 × 6 cows per dietary group were investigated in a tied-housing system and respiration chambers. Substantially higher proportions of favorable milk fatty acids were recovered in L cows when compared with C cows at the group level, making the analysis of bulk milk a suitable control instrument for retailers. Linseed supplementation resulted in a slightly lower diurnal course of CH<sub>4</sub> emission intensity than the control at the group and individual levels. However, we found no more than a trend for a CH<sub>4</sub> mitigating effect, unlike in other studies supplementing similar linseed lipid levels. Feed supplements in concentrations that lead to a significant reduction in CH<sub>4</sub> emissions must show whether the reduction potential determined at the group and individual levels is comparable.
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