ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2025 47 2. Methane Intensity for 90 Pounds of Milk: MI₉₀ = Methane Yield (kg CH₄/day) / Milk Production (lbs./day) MI₉₀ = 0.35 kg CH₄/day / 90 lbs./day = 0.00389 kg CH₄/lb. milk. 3. Methane Intensity Difference (ΔMI): ΔMI = MI₈₀ - MI₉₀ ΔMI = 0.004375 kg CH₄/lb. milk - 0.00389 kg CH₄/lb. milk = 0.000485 kg CH₄/lb. milk. 4. Reduced Methane per Day: The reduction in methane for an additional 10 pounds of milk per day is then: Reduced Methane per Day = 10 lbs. milk × 0.000485 kg CH₄/lb. milk = 0.00485 kg CH₄/day. This shows how increased milk production reduces methane intensity, even if total methane yield remains unchanged. 5. Social Cost of Methane Savings: The daily savings from reduced methane emissions can be calculated using the social cost of methane. We will use the reduced methane emissions per cow/day due to increased milk production determined above (0.00485 kg CH₄/day) multiplied by the social cost of methane per kg ($1500/1000 = $1.5 per kg of CH₄). Daily Savings = 0.00485 kg CH₄/day × $1,500/1,000 kg CH₄ = $0.0073 per cow per day. 6. Annual Herd-Level Impact: So, for 1,000 cows, the annual methane-related savings are: Annual Savings = 1,000 cows × $0.0073 per cow/ day × 365 days = $2,664.50. While the daily savings per cow might appear small, they scale significantly across large herds, demonstrating the dual environmental and economic benefits of optimizing feed efficiency and reducing methane intensity. CONCLUSION 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. Ultimately, successful methane mitigation will require a comprehensive approach, using innovations in nutrition, genetics, and management to optimize both parameters simultaneously. References 1. S. Fresco, D. Boichard, S. Fritz, R. Lefebvre, S. Barbey, M. Gaborit, and P. Martin. 2023 Comparison of methane production, intensity, and yield throughout lactation in Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science. Volume 106, Issue 6, Pages 4147-4157, ISSN 0022-0302, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22855. 2. Resources for the Future. (2023, May 5). The US Environmental Protection Agency introduces a new social cost of carbon for public comment. Retrieved from https:// www.resources.org/common-resources/the-us-environmental-protection-agency-introduces-a-new-social-cost-of-carbon-for-public-comment/ About Álvaro García Álvaro García, DVM, MS, PhD, has extensive experience in academia, research, and industry consulting. Currently working with Dellait – Animal Nutrition & Health, he specializes in dairy cattle nutrition, feed management, and international agricultural trade. Dr. García has held prominent roles, including Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources at South Dakota State University (SDSU), where he led impactful extension programs and contributed to dairy science research. He has published numerous articles, delivered international workshops, and served as a consultant for various agricultural organizations including presently with the US Grains Corn Council. His work focuses on advancing sustainable practices in dairy production and improving animal health and nutrition globally.
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