Asparagopsis taxiformis supplementation to mitigate enteric methane emissions in dairy cows—Effects on performance and metabolism

ABSTRACT: Methane emissions from ruminant digestion contribute significantly to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Members of the phylum Rhodophyta (red algae), particularly Asparagopsis sp., have shown promising results in reducing methane emissions in ruminants, due to their high content of halogenated methane analog compounds. However, knowledge is lacking regarding the effects of red algae on animal performance and metabolism. This study investigated the effects of dairy cow diet supplementation with Asparagopsis taxiformis on enteric methane performance, metabolism of bromine and iodine, and health status of the cows. Thirty lactating Nordic Red dairy cows fed a TMR were blocked according to parity and DIM, and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 diets: a control diet with no A. taxiformis (CON), a diet with 0.15% A. taxiformis on an OM basis (L-AT), and a diet with 0.3% A. taxiformis on an OM basis (H-AT). The cows were fed the experimental diets continuously for 13 wk, beginning with a baseline week (wk 0), which served as covariate by week where all cows received the basal diet. Individual feed intake and milk yield were recorded automatically throughout the experiment. Milk composition was determined by collecting milk samples during each milking session on 2 consecutive days every experimental week. Enteric methane and hydrogen levels were measured continuously by the GreenFeed system. Feces grab samples were collected as spot samples from a subset of 6 cows per treatment after milking during sampling wk 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12. Urine spot samples were collected from the same subset of cows during the same weeks as fecal samples. One urine sample was taken per day on 2 consecutive days, and the samples were analyzed for wk 12. Rumen fluid was collected after morning milking using a stomach tube in wk 0, 2, 4, and 12. We observed a 30% reduction in methane production in the H-AT group, with a concomitant increase in hydrogen production by 383%. However, the interaction between treatment and week showed that the AT effect on methane reduction began to diminish by wk 9 of the experiment. In the L-AT group, methane was reduced by 7.6% and hydrogen production was increased by 70%. However, DMI was 7% lower and ECM yield was 2% lower in the H-AT group compared with the other 2 groups. Total concentration of volatile fatty acids in rumen fluid was lower in the H-AT group compared with CON, with a reduction in acetate concentration and an increase in propionate, butyrate, and valerate in the H-AT group. Bromine concentration was 5-fold higher, and iodine concentration was 9-fold higher in milk from the H-AT group compared with CON. Bromine concentration in feces and urine samples from H-AT cows was approximately 4-fold and 9-fold higher, respectively, than in samples from CON cows. Metabolic profiling revealed a reduction in cholesterol levels and a decrease in the ferric-reducing ability of plasma in the H-AT treatment group compared with CON, as well as an increase in plasma magnesium concentration in the H-AT group. In conclusion, using 0.3% A. taxiformis as an additive in dairy cow feed rations can mitigate enteric methane emissions, but this reduction was observed only during the first 8 wk of the experiment, with no effect on methane emissions from wk 9 to 12. Additionally, it may have negative effects on DMI and ECM yield. Further long-term studies on red algae as methane inhibitor is needed to examine its sustained inhibitory effects over time and its effect on various metabolic processes. The effects appear to decline after wk 8 and influence several metabolic mechanisms.