Feed Intake, Methane Emissions, Milk Production and Rumen Methanogen Populations of Grazing Dairy Cows Supplemented with Various C 18 Fatty Acid Sources

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Reducing methane emissions from dairy cows is environmentally important. In this experiment, pasture fed dairy cows offered concentrates containing linseed oil emitted 18% less methane per kg of milk solids produced than those offered concentrates containing either stearic acid or soy oil. Additionally, cows fed linseed oil or soy oil produced more milk than those fed stearic acid. These results may contribute to the development of strategies to reduce methane emissions from pasture-based livestock whilst maintaining or improving animal productivity. ABSTRACT: Emissions of methane (CH(4)) from dairy production systems are environmentally detrimental and represent an energy cost to the cow. This study evaluated the effect of varying C18 fatty acid sources on CH(4) emissions, milk production and rumen methanogen populations in grazing lactating dairy cows. Forty-five Holstein Friesian cows were randomly allocated to one of three treatments (n = 15). Cows were offered 15 kg dry matter (DM)/d of grazed pasture plus supplementary concentrates (4 kg DM/d) containing either stearic acid (SA), linseed oil (LO), or soy oil (SO). Cows offered LO and SO had lower pasture DM intake (DMI) than those offered SA (11.3, 11.5 vs. 12.6 kg/d). Cows offered LO and SO had higher milk yield (21.0, 21.3 vs. 19.7 kg/d) and milk protein yield (0.74, 0.73 vs. 0.67 kg/d) than those offered SA. Emissions of CH(4) (245 vs. 293, 289 g/d, 12.4 vs. 15.7, 14.8 g/kg of milk and 165 vs. 207, 195 g/kg of milk solids) were lower for cows offered LO than those offered SA or SO. Methanobrevibacter ruminantium abundance was reduced in cows offered LO compared to SA. Offering supplementary concentrates containing LO can reduce enteric CH(4) emissions from pasture fed dairy cows.