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Background: Supplementation of ruminant diets with wheat and corn grains influences ruminal fermentation. In vitro fermentation is a methodology that can be used to screen feeds for their potential to produce enteric methane. However, there is evidence that the diet of the donor cows could impact the results of in vitro analysis. This research investigated the in vitro fermentation of wheat and corn grain when incubated in ruminal fluid from cows fed different grain types and different forage-to-grain ratios., Results: The type of grain fed to the donor cows, as well as forage-to-grain ratio, affected the outcome of fermentation of wheat and corn grain. Differences in methane production (MP) between grains were only observed when incubated with ruminal fluid adapted to each specific grain type. Increasing proportions of wheat but not of corn decreased in vitro MP in a linear manner compared with MP produced from forage only., Conclusions: Wheat grain has a greater in vitro antimethanogenic effect than corn. However, to detect the different fermentations between wheat and corn, grains should be incubated in ruminal fluid from cows adapted to that specific grain type. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Simple Summary: Mitigating methane emissions from ruminants requires strategies that are sustainable and acceptable to both consumers and producers. Direct-fed microbials could meet these requirements. Forty Holstein-Friesian cows were randomly allocated one of two treatments, a control or control plus a direct-fed microbial (MYLO®—a mixture of Lactobacillus species; Terragen Biotech Pty Ltd., Coolum Beach, Queensland, Australia). Adding the direct-fed microbial had no significant effect on feed intake, milk yield, feed conversion efficiency, or methane parameters. While these results are contrary to our expectations, all were numerically in a favorable direction. Given there are reports that diet and dose rate may impact the size of any effect, we recommend a dose–response study be undertaken using a basal diet that is commonly used in pasture-based dairy systems. Using direct-fed microbials to mitigate enteric methane emissions could be sustainable and acceptable to both consumers and producers. Forty lactating, multiparous, Holstein-Friesian cows were randomly allocated one of two treatments: (1) a base of ad libitum vetch (Vicia sativa) hay and 7.0 kg DM/d of a grain mix, or (2) the basal diet plus 10 mL of MYLO® (Terragen Biotech Pty Ltd., Coolum Beach, Queensland, Australia) delivering 4.17 × 108 cfu of Lactobacillus per mL. Neither feed intake (25.4 kg/d vs. 24.8 kg/d) nor milk yield (29.9 vs. 30.3 kg/d) were affected by treatment. Feed conversion efficiency was not affected by treatment when expressed on an energy-corrected milk basis (1.15 vs. 1.18 kg/kg DMI). Neither methane yield (31.6 vs. 31.1 g/kg DMI) nor methane intensity (27.1 vs. 25.2 g/kg energy corrected milk) were affected by treatments. While these results are contrary to our expectations and not significant, all were numerically in a favorable direction. Given there are reports that diet and dose rate may impact the size of any effect, we recommend a dose–response study be undertaken using a basal diet that is commonly used in pasture-based dairy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hot weather is associated with reduced milk yield of dairy cows. Supplementing the diet of lactating cows with ingredients that increase dietary energy density or that reduce internal heat production, may reduce some of the negative impacts of hot weather on milk yield. We used controlled-climate chambers to simulate a short hot-weather event and measured changes in milk yield, feed intake, and body temperature of cows fed either a fat supplement, betaine or a combination of both. Feeding cows fat resulted in improved milk production but also increased body temperature and caused a decrease in feed intake. Feeding betaine did not affect milk yield but did reduce cow body temperature at times. Contrary to our expectations, the combination of fat and betaine supplements did not result in a clear benefit in terms of milk production or body temperature. Further work is warranted to understand the interactions between dietary fat type and betaine supplements when offered to cows during periods of hot weather. Supplementing the diet of lactating cows with ingredients that increase energy density, or reduce internal heat production, may reduce some of the negative impacts of hot weather on milk yield. Thirty-two dairy cows were assigned either: (1) basal diet only, (2) basal diet plus canola oil, (3) basal diet plus betaine, or (4) basal diet plus canola oil and betaine. The basal diet was lucerne hay, pasture silage, and grain. Cows were exposed to a four-day heat challenge (temperature-humidity index 74 to 84) in controlled-environment chambers. Canola oil supplementation increased milk production (22.0 vs. 18.7 kg/d) across all periods of our experiment and increased body temperature (39.6 vs. 39.0 °C) during the heat challenge. Betaine supplementation reduced maximum body temperature during the pre-challenge period (39.2 vs. 39.6 °C) but not during the heat challenge (40.3 °C). Cows fed canola oil had greater declines in dry matter intake (5.4 vs 2.7 kg DM) and energy corrected milk (1.3 vs. 1.0 kg) from the pre-challenge to the heat challenge than other cows. Contrary to our expectations, the combination of fat and betaine supplements did not result in a clear benefit in terms of milk production or body temperature. Further work is warranted to understand the interactions between diet and hot weather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Grape marc comprises the skins, seeds and stems of grapes remaining after grapes are pressed to make wine. Globally, about nine million tonnes of grape marc are produced annually. However, little is known about the comparative nutritional value of grape marc from red and white grapes and their effects on milk production and methane emissions when fed to dairy cows. Our experiment assessed the potential role of grape marc as a feed source for the grazing based, Australian dairy industry. We fed diets based on harvested perennial ryegrass to lactating dairy cows and compared milk production and methane emissions when grape marc from either red or white grapes was substituted for some of the perennial ryegrass. Diets containing grape marc from either red or white grapes equally decreased milk yields by approximately 10% and methane emissions by 15%. When fed to dairy cows, grape marc reduces methane emissions but at the cost of decreased milk production. The effects on methane emissions were mainly mediated by the high concentrations of lignin and fat in grape marc while decreased milk production was due to decreased intake of metabolizable energy. Globally, annual production of grape marc (GM), the residue of skins, seeds and stems remaining after making wine, has been estimated to be approximately nine million tonnes. No previous studies have compared effects on milk production and methane emissions when GM from either red or white grapes was fed to dairy cows. This experiment examines the effects of partial replacement of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) based diet with GM from either red or white grapes on yield and composition of milk and methane emissions. Thirty-two Holstein dairy cows in early lactation were offered either a control diet containing 15.0 kg dry matter (DM) of freshly harvested perennial ryegrass and 5.2 kg of a concentrate mix, or a diet similar to the control diet but with 5 kg DM of ryegrass replaced with 5 kg DM of GM from red grapes (RGM), or a diet similar to the RGM diet except the GM was from white grapes (WGM). Individual cow feed intakes, milk yields, and methane emissions were measured. Both diets containing GM decreased milk yields by approximately 10% and methane emissions by 15%. When fed to dairy cows, GM reduces methane emissions but at the cost of decreased milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Methane emissions from cattle are difficult to measure, and some proxies used to estimate them have required information that is not always available. An example is predicting methane from the fatty-acid profile of milk, but this strategy is not suitable for non-lactating animals. We propose equations to predict the methane emitted per unit of feed eaten (methane yield) based on the volatile fatty acids within the rumen of the animals. Three of the seven equations we investigated were equally good at predicting the methane yield of dairy cows. Validation of these equations using previously published results indicated that the equations should also work for beef cattle. Being able to predict the methane yield for all classes of cattle means that a single strategy can be used, eliminating differences because of the use of different methods for different animal classes. Further work is necessary, but our strategy should be able to be adapted for use in cattle production environments. Being able to predict the methane of production animals will enable accurate estimates of the methane emissions from those animals, and assessment of strategies to reduce those emissions. The dry matter intake (DMI) of forage-fed cattle can be used to predict their methane emissions. However, many cattle are fed concentrate-rich diets that decrease their methane yield. A range of equations predicting methane yield exist, but most use information that is generally unavailable when animals are fed in groups or grazing. The aim of this research was to develop equations based on proportions of ruminal volatile-fatty-acids to predict methane yield of dairy cows fed forage-dominant as well as concentrate-rich diets. Data were collated from seven experiments with a total of 24 treatments, from 215 cows. Forage in the diets ranged from 440 to 1000 g/kg. Methane was measured either by open-circuit respiration chambers or a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) technique. In all experiments, ruminal fluid was collected via the mouth approximately four hours after the start of feeding. Seven prediction equations were tested. Methane yield (MY) was equally best predicted by the following equations: MY = 4.08 × (acetate/propionate) + 7.05; MY = 3.28 × (acetate + butyrate)/propionate + 7.6; MY = 316/propionate + 4.4. These equations were validated against independent published data from both dairy and beef cattle consuming a wide range of diets. A concordance of 0.62 suggests these equations may be applicable for predicting methane yield from all cattle and not just dairy cows, with root mean-square error of prediction of 3.0 g CH4/kg dry matter intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]