ISSUE FOCUS 46 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2025 METHANE INTENSITY (MPM) MPM links methane emissions directly to milk yield, reflecting the environmental efficiency of milk production. Factors affecting MPM include: • Milk Yield: Higher milk yield spreads emissions across more output, reducing MPM. • Feed Utilization: Efficient feed-to-milk conversion lowers MPM. • Animal Productivity: Multiparous cows tend to have lower MPM due to greater production efficiency. Reducing MPM aligns with farm profitability by improving income over feed costs (IOFC). Strategies such as genetic improvements, lactation management, and increased milk yields effectively lower MPM while enhancing overall farm sustainability. ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR METHANE YIELD AND INTENSITY • Reducing MEY can lead to long-term feed cost savings by improving feed conversion efficiency. However, achieving this often requires investment in higher-quality feed, feed additives like methane inhibitors, or precision feeding systems. • Reducing MPM typically involves strategies that enhance milk yield, such as genetic selection, optimal lactation management, and cow comfort improvements. These strategies are directly linked to economic returns, as they improve profitability per cow. From an economic standpoint, MPM offers a more direct alignment with profitability, as it ties emissions to milk output. High milk production systems with optimized feed intake often achieve lower MPM, resulting in both environmental benefits and increased income over feed costs. On the other hand, MEY emphasizes feed efficiency and rumen health, which can lower total emissions and reduce feed costs but may not directly correlate with milk yield. Practical example: Let’s suppose a farm with cows that weigh 1,500 pounds, each eating 60 pounds of DM of a total mixed ration. Let’s also assume that because of either feed quality or inadequate feed formulation the cows’ milk 80 pounds when they have genetic potential to be at 90 pounds per day. 1. Milk Price: $20/cwt. 2. Methane Yield: 0.35 kg methane/day (average value based on 60 pounds/day of DMI). 3. Social Cost of Methane (SC-CH₄): $1,500 per metric ton (2). The social cost of methane (SC-CH₄) refers to the estimated monetary value of the harm caused by emitting one metric ton of methane into the atmosphere. In this practical example, the SC-CH₄ is set at $1,500 per metric ton (2). This means that every kilogram of methane a cow emits carries a societal cost of $1.50 (since 1 metric ton equals 1,000 kg). By reducing methane emissions, even slightly, dairy farmers not only improve operational efficiency but also help lower the broader economic and environmental costs associated with methane's contribution to climate change. 1. Methane Intensity for 80 Pounds of Milk: MI₈₀ = Methane Yield (kg CH₄/day) / Milk Production (lbs./day) MI₈₀ = 0.35 kg CH₄/day / 80 lbs./day = 0.004375 kg CH₄/lb. milk. Aspect Methane Yield Methane Intensity Focus Implications Economic Impact Measurement Challenges Efficiency of feed utilization Encourages feed strategies to improve rumen efficiency Reduces feed costs but may increase ration costs Requires accurate DMI measurement Environmental cost per unit of milk produced Encourages higher milk yields and overall productivity Directly tied to milk output and profitability Requires both CH4 and milk yield data
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==