1. Methane Emission, Carbon Footprint and Productivity of Specialized Dairy Cows Supplemented with Bitter Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).
- Author
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Molina-Botero, Isabel Cristina, Gaviria-Uribe, Xiomara, Rios-Betancur, Juan Pablo, Medina-Campuzano, Manuela, Toro-Trujillo, Mercedes, González-Quintero, Ricardo, Ospina, Bernardo, and Arango, Jacobo
- Subjects
DAIRY cattle ,ECOLOGICAL impact ,FEED analysis ,JERSEY cattle ,CASSAVA ,MILKFAT ,MILK yield - Abstract
Simple Summary: The objective of this research was to determine the effect of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) supplementation on enteric methane emissions, carbon footprint, and production parameters in dairy cows. Cassava roots and leaves replaced up to 30% of the daily supply of commercial concentrate for two Jersey and Jersey * Holstein breeds. Cassava leaves were characterized by a high crude protein content, with five times more neutral detergent fiber content than cassava root. Average enteric methane emissions per animal ranged from 194 to 234 g/d. The carbon footprint was reduced by replacing 30% of the concentrate with cassava leaves and/or roots. Energy-corrected milk production was 1.15 times higher in Jersey * Holstein animals than in Jersey cows. Therefore, supplementation with cassava leaves and/or roots is a nutritionally and environmentally sustainable strategy to replace external grain concentrates used in these systems. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) supplementation on enteric methane (CH
4 ) emissions, carbon footprint, and production parameters in dairy cows. Daily concentrate supply for Jersey and Jersey * Holstein breeds was evaluated in four treatments (T): T1: 100% commercial concentrate; T2: 70% concentrate + 30% cassava leaves; T3: 70% concentrate + 30% cassava roots; and T4: 70% concentrate + 15% cassava leaves + 15% cassava root chips. Measurements of CH4 emissions were performed using the polytunnel technique. Average daily dry matter intake ranged from 7.8 to 8.5 kg dry matter (DM). Cassava leaves were characterized by a high crude protein (CP) content (171 g CP/kg DM), with 5 times more neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content than cassava root (587 vs. 108 g NDF/kg DM). Average enteric CH4 emissions per animal ranged from 194 to 234 g/d (p > 0.05). The carbon footprint was reduced by replacing 30% of the concentrate with cassava leaves and/or roots. Energy-corrected milk production was 1.15 times higher in Jersey * Holstein animals than Jersey cows (47 vs. 55 kg). Therefore, supplementation with cassava leaves and/or roots is a nutritionally and environmentally sustainable strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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