Effects of grain-based concentrate feeding and rumination frequency on the milk production, methane and carbon dioxide fluxes, and activity of dairy cows in a pasture-based automatic milking system

Watt, Lucinda; Clark, Cameron; Albornoz, Rodrigo; Krebs, Gaye; Petzel, Christopher; Utsumi, Santiago A.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104420

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Compared to cows in the median-rumination group, those in the high-rumination group produced 2.9 percent less CH 4 per milk unit; conversely, cows in the low-rumination group produced 4.6 percent less CH 4 [ 132 ]. Nevertheless, several investigations have demonstrated that rumination does not have an impact on the levels of CH 4 or CO 2 [ 133 ].…”

Section: Innovative Technologies Registered Physiological Parameters—...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between Dairy Cow Health and Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Džermeikaitė,

Krištolaitytė,

Antanaitis

2024

Animals

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The dairy industry is facing criticism for its role in exacerbating global GHG emissions, as climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue. These emissions mostly originate from methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2). An optimal strategy involves the creation of an economical monitoring device to evaluate methane emissions from dairy animals. Livestock production systems encounter difficulties because of escalating food demand and environmental concerns. Enhancing animal productivity via nutrition, feeding management, reproduction, or genetics can result in a decrease in CH4 emissions per unit of meat or milk. This CH4 unit approach allows for a more accurate comparison of emissions across different animal production systems, considering variations in productivity. Expressing methane emissions per unit allows for easier comparison between different sources of emissions. Expressing emissions per unit (e.g., per cow) highlights the relative impact of these sources on the environment. By quantifying emissions on a per unit basis, it becomes easier to identify high-emission sources and target mitigation efforts accordingly. Many environmental policies and regulations focus on reducing emissions per unit of activity or output. By focusing on emissions per unit, policymakers and producers can work together to implement practices that lower emissions without sacrificing productivity. Expressing methane emissions in this way aligns with policy goals aimed at curbing overall greenhouse gas emissions. While it is true that total emissions affect the atmosphere globally, breaking down emissions per unit helps to understand the specific contributions of different activities and sectors to overall greenhouse gas emissions. Tackling cattle health issues can increase productivity, reduce GHG emissions, and improve animal welfare. Addressing livestock health issues can also provide favourable impacts on human health by reducing the prevalence of infectious illnesses in livestock, thereby mitigating the likelihood of zoonotic infections transmitting to humans. The progress in animal health offers the potential for a future in which the likelihood of animal diseases is reduced because of improved immunity, more effective preventative techniques, earlier identification, and innovative treatments. The primary objective of veterinary medicine is to eradicate clinical infectious diseases in small groups of animals. However, as the animal population grows, the emphasis shifts towards proactive treatment to tackle subclinical diseases and enhance production. Proactive treatment encompasses the consistent monitoring and implementation of preventive measures, such as vaccination and adherence to appropriate nutrition. Through the implementation of these measures, the livestock industry may enhance both animal well-being and mitigate the release of methane and nitrous oxide, thereby fostering environmental sustainability. In addition, advocating for sustainable farming methods and providing farmers with education on the significance of mitigating GHG emissions can bolster the industry’s endeavours to tackle climate change and infectious illnesses. This will result in a more robust and environmentally sustainable agriculture industry. This review seeks to conduct a thorough examination of the correlation between the health condition of cattle, the composition of milk produced, and the emissions of methane gas. It aims to identify areas where research is lacking and to provide guidance for future scientific investigations, policy making, and industry practices. The goal is to address the difficulties associated with methane emissions in the cattle industry. The primary global health challenge is to identify the causative relationship between climate change and infectious illnesses. Reducing CH4 and N2O emissions from digestive fermentation and animal manure can be achieved by improving animal well-being and limiting disease and mortality.

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Section: Innovative Technologies Registered Physiological Parameters—...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between Dairy Cow Health and Intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Džermeikaitė,

Krištolaitytė,

Antanaitis

2024

Animals

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“…Grass height (4) was measured on this strip with the rising plate mater. The collected sample was expressed in kg DM/ha and then divided by the grass height value: (3) divided by (4) so that the sward density was expressed in kg DM/cm/ha (5). The sward density ((5), kg DM/cm/ha) was multiplied by the average grass height value (1 and 2) to estimate the grass stocks at entry and exit (6 and 7).…”

Section: Grazing Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In parallel, the consumers pay more attention to animal welfare and the sector's environmental impact. In this context, grazing Animals 2022, 12, 1281 2 of 14 demonstrates several advantages, including lower milk production costs [3,4], some environmental benefits [5] and a positive image toward consumers [6,7]. Coupling AMS and grazing is possible, and several ways to achieve it were described in the literature [8][9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Minimum Milking Interval on Traffic and Milk Production of Cows Milked by a Pasture Based Automatic Milking System

Lessire

Hornick

Dufrasne

2022

Animals

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In dairy farms automatic milking systems and grazing, traffic to the robot is the cornerstone of profitability as higher milking frequency enhances milk yield. In this study, we investigated whether shortening the minimum milking interval (MMI), i.e., the required time between two milkings for an animal to get access to the milking unit, coupled with high concentrate allocation, could increase the daily milking frequency (MF, milking/cow/day) and consequently the milk yield of grazing cows. Two groups of cows (n = 19 and n = 20) belonging to the same herd were discriminated based on concentrate supply (high vs. low: 4 vs. 2 kg/cow/day) and then further divided on the basis of MMI (4 h vs. 6 h) so that four groups were formed (HC4 h–HC6 h–LC4 h and finally LC6 h). Higher concentrate allocation induced a rise in milk yield (MY, kg/cow/day) and allowed to stabilize it in periods of grass shortage but did not influence milking frequency, while shorter MMI (4 h) was correlated with higher MF without effect on MY. A combination of both strategies (4 h and high concentrate) improved the traffic globally to the robot. This result was linked to a reduction of refused milking and, therefore, the decrease in returns to the robot. This strategy could be advised to maximize the system’s efficiency during periods of high milk sales. When the economic conditions do not favour the increase in concentrate supply, short MMI could facilitate the traffic and increase the efficiency of returns.

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