THE PREDICTION OF METHANE PRODUCTION OF HOLSTEIN COWS BY SEVERAL EQUATIONS

Citation
Va. Wilkerson et al., THE PREDICTION OF METHANE PRODUCTION OF HOLSTEIN COWS BY SEVERAL EQUATIONS, Journal of dairy science, 78(11), 1995, pp. 2402-2414
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Agriculture Dairy & AnumalScience","Food Science & Tenology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00220302
Volume
78
Issue
11
Year of publication
1995
Pages
2402 - 2414
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-0302(1995)78:11<2402:TPOMPO>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
Ruminants are one of many sources contributing to atmospheric methane. The accuracy of seven published equations for methane prediction was evaluated using a data file consisting of 16 experiments (602 observat ions). Methane energy emissions ranged from .89 to 7.21 Mcal/d for Hol stein cows. The DMI ranged from 9.7 to 28.7 kg/d for lactating cows an d 4.0 to 12.9 kg/d for nonlactating cows. Mean dietary concentrations of ADF, CP, and ether extract were similar for lactating and nonlactat ing cows (20.9, 16.5, and 3.0% for lactating cows versus 21.2, 15.7, a nd 2.9% for nonlactating cows, respectively). Milk production ranged f rom 2.7 to 55.9 kg/d. Prediction equations were ranked by correlation coefficients and error of prediction. Prediction of methane energy los s from lactating and nonlactating Holstein cows with equations based o n the daily total intake or intake of digested cellulose, hemicellulos e, and nonfiber carbohydrates (OM - NDF - CP - ether extract) provided the highest correlation coefficients for reproducibility and the lowe st errors of prediction. Predictions were poor for lactating cows when a quadratic function of DMI was used. In general, equations estimated methane production more accurately and precisely for nonlactating tha n for lactating cows.