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Laser methane detector-based quantification of methane emissions from indoor-fed Fogera dairy cows
- Source :
- Animal Bioscience, Animal Bioscience, Vol 34, Iss 8, Pp 1415-1424 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Animal Bioscience, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Objective: Portable laser methane detectors (LMDs) may be an economical means of estimating CH4 emissions from ruminants. We validated an LMD-based approach and then used that approach to evaluate CH4 emissions from indigenous dairy cows in a dryland area of Ethiopia. Methods: First, we validated our LMD-based approach in Simmental crossbred beef cattle (n = 2) housed in respiration chambers and fed either a high- or low-concentrate diet. From the results of the validation, we constructed an estimation equation to determine CH4 emissions from LMD CH4 concentrations. Next, we used our validated LMD approach to examine CH4 emissions in Fogera dairy cows grazed for 8 h/d (GG, n = 4), fed indoors on natural-grassland hay (CG1, n = 4), or fed indoors on Napier-grass (Pennisetum purpureum) hay (CG2, n = 4). All the cows were supplemented with concentrate feed. Results: The exhaled CH4 concentrations measured by LMD were linearly correlated with the CH4 emissions determined by infrared-absorption-based gas analyzer (r2 = 0.55). The estimation equation used to determine CH4 emissions (y, mg/min) from LMD CH4 concentrations (x, ppm m) was y = 0.4259x+38.61. Daily CH4 emissions of Fogera cows estimated by using the equation did not differ among the three groups; however, a numerically greater milk yield was obtained from the CG2 cows than from the GG cows, suggesting that Napiergrass hay might be better than natural-grassland hay for indoor feeding. The CG1 cows had higher CH4 emissions per feed intake than the other groups, without significant increases in milk yield and body-weight gain, suggesting that natural-grassland hay cannot be recommended for indoor-fed cows. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the potential of using LMDs to valuate feeding regimens rapidly and economically for dairy cows in areas under financial constraint, while taking CH4 emissions into consideration.
- Subjects :
- Methane emissions
Laser Methane Detector
Physiology
Beef cattle
Crossbreed
Methane
Article
Methane Emissions
03 medical and health sciences
chemistry.chemical_compound
Animal science
Milk yield
Genetics
Pennisetum purpureum
Napier Grass
Ethiopian Dryland
030304 developmental biology
0303 health sciences
General Veterinary
biology
Environment and Management
0402 animal and dairy science
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
biology.organism_classification
040201 dairy & animal science
Gas analyzer
Indoor Feeding
QL1-991
chemistry
Hay
Fogera Dairy Cow
Environmental science
Animal Science and Zoology
Zoology
Food Science
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 27650235 and 27650189
- Volume :
- 34
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Animal Bioscience
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c91794e0b720e02feb8bfe1e6befa99d