ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2025 45 “While methane yield focuses on feed efficiency and methane intensity emphasizes production efficiency, both metrics are essential to create a sustainable and economically viable dairy system. Methane intensity provides a clearer path to balancing environmental goals with profitability, making it a more practical target for breeding and management strategies. However, integrating methane yield into feeding practices can further enhance overall sustainability by reducing methane emissions at their source.” Dairy production faces scrutiny for methane (CH4) emissions, a potent greenhouse gas primarily produced during ruminant digestion. From a farmer’s perspective, these emissions also signify a loss of valuable carbon initially paid for in feed, underscoring inefficiencies in converting feed energy into milk. Two metrics commonly used to evaluate CH₄ emissions in dairy cattle are methane yield (MEY), the methane produced per kilogram of dry matter intake (DMI), and methane intensity (MPM), methane emitted per kilogram of milk produced. These metrics offer insights into emissions efficiency and have significant implications for both environmental sustainability and milk production economics. METHANE YIELD (MEY) MEY measures methane emissions per kilogram of feed consumed, providing insight into rumen fermentation efficiency. Lower MEY indicates better feed digestion, benefiting both the environment and farm economics. Factors influencing MEY include: • Feed Quality and Composition: High-energy, low-fiber diets improve fermentation and reduce carbon losses as methane. • Rumen Function: Efficient microbial activity optimizes energy conversion and minimizes methane emissions. • Stage of Lactation: MEY often increases later in lactation as metabolic changes and lower feed intake alter fermentation dynamics. Although improving MEY can optimize feed utilization and reduce costs, it often requires investing in higher-quality feeds, necessitating strategic ration balancing to ensure profitability. COW SIZE AND MEY Larger cows consume more feed, leading to higher methane emissions. However, maximizing their genetic potential for milk production can improve methane intensity (MPM) by diluting emissions across more milk output. Feeding precision diets tailored to support production efficiency can ensure that increased MEY is counterbalanced by improved MPM, demonstrating the importance of balancing cow size, feed quality, and overall health to achieve both economic and environmental benefits. ECONOMICS OF METHANE YIELD AND INTENSITY IN MILK PRODUCTION Dr. Alvaro Garcia Feeds Specialist and Nutritionist Dellait Animal Nutrition and Health
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