Abstract
Methane from enteric fermentation of organic matter by ruminants is considered a key contributor to climate change. This study examined the effect of feeding a total mixed ration at different intervals, either once, twice or four times daily, on pattern of methane emission by lactating dairy cows and developed a response function based on exponentials to describe the observed patterns of methane emission. The function describes an asymmetrical shape exhibiting a continuous rise to a peak followed by a period of linear decline. There were differences between treatments in terms of total methane output and the pattern of emission, with peaks observed following feedings. The rate of decline in methane production post-prandially was linked to amount of dry matter consumed following each feeding. The simple model fitted the data satisfactorily and provides a biological description for fluctuations in methane release in response to changes in feeding pattern. The response function could be applied more widely as part of methane emission inventories following further work to examine the differences in eating behaviour and methane emission across different production systems.
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The financial support of UK Defra project LS3656 and the Canada Research Chairs Program are gratefully acknowledged.
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Crompton, L.A., Mills, J.A.N., Reynolds, C.K., France, J. (2011). Fluctuations in methane emission in response to feeding pattern in lactating dairy cows. In: Sauvant, D., Van Milgen, J., Faverdin, P., Friggens, N. (eds) Modelling nutrient digestion and utilisation in farm animals. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-712-7_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-712-7_19
Publisher Name: Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen
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