Effect of a Low-Methane Diet on Performance and Microbiome in Lactating Dairy Cows Accounting for Individual Pre-Trial Methane Emissions

Abstract

This study examined the effects of partly replacing grass silage (GS) with maize silage (MS), with or without rapeseed oil (RSO) supplementation, on methane (CH₄) emissions, production performance, and rumen microbiome in the diets of lactating dairy cows. The effect of individual pre-trial CH₄-emitting characteristics on dietary emissions mitigation was also examined. Twenty Nordic Red cows at 71 ± 37.2 (mean ± SD) days in milk were assigned to a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with four dietary treatments (GS, GS supplemented with RSO, GS plus MS, GS plus MS supplemented with RSO) applied in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Partial replacement of GS with MS decreased the intake of dry matter (DM) and nutrients, milk production, yield of milk components, and general nutrient digestibility. Supplementation with RSO decreased the intake of DM and nutrients, energy-corrected milk yield, composition and yield of milk fat and protein, and general digestibility of nutrients, except for crude protein. Individual cow pre-trial measurements of CH₄-emitting characteristics had a significant influence on gas emissions but did not alter the magnitude of CH₄ emissions. Dietary RSO decreased daily CH₄, yield, and intensity. It also increased the relative abundance of rumen Methanosphaera and Succinivibrionaceae and decreased that of Bifidobacteriaceae. There were no effects of dietary MS on CH₄ emissions in this study, but supplementation with 41 g RSO/kg of DM reduced daily CH₄ emissions from lactating dairy cows by 22.5%.

Keywords: dairy cow; enteric methane; feed efficiency; grass silage; maize silage; rapeseed oil; rumen microbiome.

Figure 1

Relationship between predicted methane (CH₄) emissions and residual CH₄ emissions (CH₄ observed − CH₄ predicted) (n = 20).

Figure 2

Archaea family and genus composition in rumen fluid, shown as mean percentage relative abundance for each experimental diet: GS—grass silage; GSO—grass silage with rapeseed oil supplementation; GSMS—grass silage plus maize silage; GSMSO—grass silage plus maize silage with rapeseed oil supplementation.

Figure 3

Bacteria family and genus composition in rumen fluid, shown as mean percentage relative abundance for each experimental diet: GS—grass silage; GSO—grass silage with rapeseed oil supplementation; GSMS—grass silage plus maize silage; GSMSO—grass silage plus maize silage with rapeseed oil supplementation.