Methane Emission, Carbon Footprint and Productivity of Specialized Dairy Cows Supplemented with Bitter Cassava (<i>Manihot esculenta</i> Crantz)
2023
Isabel Cristina Molina-Botero | Xiomara Gaviria-Uribe | Juan Pablo Rios-Betancur | Manuela Medina-Campuzano | Mercedes Toro-Trujillo | Ricardo González-Quintero | Bernardo Ospina | Jacobo Arango
The objective of this research was to determine the effect of cassava (<i>Manihot esculenta</i> Crantz) supplementation on enteric methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) emissions, carbon footprint, and production parameters in dairy cows. Daily concentrate supply for Jersey and Jersey * Holstein breeds was evaluated in four treatments (T): T1: 100% commercial concentrate; T2: 70% concentrate + 30% cassava leaves; T3: 70% concentrate + 30% cassava roots; and T4: 70% concentrate + 15% cassava leaves + 15% cassava root chips. Measurements of CH<sub>4</sub> emissions were performed using the polytunnel technique. Average daily dry matter intake ranged from 7.8 to 8.5 kg dry matter (DM). Cassava leaves were characterized by a high crude protein (CP) content (171 g CP/kg DM), with 5 times more neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content than cassava root (587 vs. 108 g NDF/kg DM). Average enteric CH<sub>4</sub> emissions per animal ranged from 194 to 234 g/d (<i>p</i> > <i>0.05</i>). The carbon footprint was reduced by replacing 30% of the concentrate with cassava leaves and/or roots. Energy-corrected milk production was 1.15 times higher in Jersey * Holstein animals than Jersey cows (47 vs. 55 kg). Therefore, supplementation with cassava leaves and/or roots is a nutritionally and environmentally sustainable strategy.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]