IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v13y2023i1p181-d1032201.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Milk Fatty Acids: The Impact of Grazing Diverse Pasture and the Potential to Predict Rumen-Derived Methane

Author

Listed:
  • Cecilia Loza

    (Institute of Plant Production and Plant Breeding, Grass and Forage Science/Organic Agriculture, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
    Present addresses: South Regional Center (CRS), Animal and Forage Science Department, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de la República, Canelones 9000, Uruguay.)

  • Hannah Davis

    (School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK)

  • Carsten Malisch

    (Institute of Plant Production and Plant Breeding, Grass and Forage Science/Organic Agriculture, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
    Present addresses: Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark.)

  • Freidhelm Taube

    (Institute of Plant Production and Plant Breeding, Grass and Forage Science/Organic Agriculture, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
    Grass Based Dairy Systems, Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University (WUR), 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Ralf Loges

    (Institute of Plant Production and Plant Breeding, Grass and Forage Science/Organic Agriculture, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

  • Amelia Magistrali

    (School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK)

  • Gillian Butler

    (School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK)

Abstract

The sustainability of dairying has been questioned, yet cattle exploit non-food resources (especially forages) and provide key nutrients for consumers’ health. This study, using different forage types, considered milk’s nutritional quality, focusing on fatty acid profiles alongside methane emissions—investigating whether methane can be predicted from milk fatty acids (FAs). Compared with grass/clover/maize silage, cows grazing grass/clover pasture produced milk 70% higher in beneficial omega-3 FAs, which increased by an additional 15% when grazing more diverse pasture. Milk from grazing also had less omega-6 FAs (compared with silage diets), and their ratio with omega-3 FAs fell from 2.5:1 on silage to 1.2:1 when grazing grass/clover and 1.1:1 on diverse pasture. Measured methane emissions (at 8.7 g/kg energy-corrected milk) were lower than published values, and existing models for estimating methane from lactating cows were poor predictors for this dataset. The multiple regression of methane against milk FAs in this study provided predictions with an R 2 of 0.56 for daily emissions and 0.65 relative to milk output. Grazing quality and a diverse pasture with productive cows were potentially beneficial to milk nutritional quality, and our results reinforce the theory that milk fat composition could be an accessible tool for methane prediction; however, they also suggest that more work is needed for alternative production systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecilia Loza & Hannah Davis & Carsten Malisch & Freidhelm Taube & Ralf Loges & Amelia Magistrali & Gillian Butler, 2023. "Milk Fatty Acids: The Impact of Grazing Diverse Pasture and the Potential to Predict Rumen-Derived Methane," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:1:p:181-:d:1032201
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/181/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/181/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cecilia Loza & Thorsten Reinsch & Ralf Loges & Friedhelm Taube & José Ignacio Gere & Christof Kluß & Mario Hasler & Carsten S. Malisch, 2021. "Methane Emission and Milk Production from Jersey Cows Grazing Perennial Ryegrass–White Clover and Multispecies Forage Mixtures," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist & Helena Hansson & Ulf Sonesson & Stefan Gunnarsson, 2020. "Research on Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability in Dairy Farming: A Systematic Mapping of Current Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-14, July.
    3. J de Souza & H Leskinen & A L Lock & K J Shingfield & P Huhtanen, 2020. "Between-cow variation in milk fatty acids associated with methane production," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Hannah Davis & Eleni Chatzidimitriou & Carlo Leifert & Gillian Butler, 2020. "Evidence That Forage-Fed Cows Can Enhance Milk Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, May.
    5. Ertl, Paul & Klocker, Hannes & Hörtenhuber, Stefan & Knaus, Wilhelm & Zollitsch, Werner, 2015. "The net contribution of dairy production to human food supply: The case of Austrian dairy farms," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 119-125.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist & Helena Hansson & Ulf Sonesson & Stefan Gunnarsson, 2021. "A Systematic Mapping of Current Literature on Sustainability at Farm-Level in Beef and Lamb Meat Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Marta Teston & Daniel Villalba & Marco Berton & Maurizio Ramanzin & Enrico Sturaro, 2020. "Relationships between Organic Beef Production and Agro-Ecosystems in Mountain Areas: The Case of Catalan Pyrenees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Berton, M. & Bittante, G. & Zendri, F. & Ramanzin, M. & Schiavon, S. & Sturaro, E., 2020. "Environmental impact and efficiency of use of resources of different mountain dairy farming systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    4. Cristina Pavanello & Marcello Franchini & Stefano Bovolenta & Elisa Marraccini & Mirco Corazzin, 2024. "Sustainability Indicators for Dairy Cattle Farms in European Union Countries: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-25, May.
    5. Roxana Nicoleta Rațu & Petru Marian Cârlescu & Marius Giorgi Usturoi & Florin Daniel Lipșa & Ionuț Dumitru Veleșcu & Vlad Nicolae Arsenoaia & Andreea Mihaela Florea & Marius Mihai Ciobanu & Răzvan-Mih, 2023. "Effects of Dairy Cows Management Systems on the Physicochemical and Nutritional Quality of Milk and Yogurt, in a North-Eastern Romanian Farm," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Anne-Charlotte Hoes & Lusine Aramyan, 2022. "Blind Spot for Pioneering Farmers? Reflections on Dutch Dairy Sustainability Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.
    7. Stefan J. Hörtenhuber & Verena Größbacher & Lisa Schanz & Werner J. Zollitsch, 2023. "Implementing IPCC 2019 Guidelines into a National Inventory: Impacts of Key Changes in Austrian Cattle and Pig Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-21, March.
    8. Nikolaos Voutzourakis & Alexandros Stefanakis & Sokratis Stergiadis & Leonidas Rempelos & Nikolaos Tzanidakis & Mick Eyre & Gillian Butler & Carlo Leifert & Smaragda Sotiraki, 2021. "Effect of Intensification Practices, Lambing Period and Environmental Parameters on Animal Health, and Milk Yield and Quality in Dairy Sheep Production Systems on Crete," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-27, August.
    9. Anja Scheurich & Alexandra Penicka & Stefan Hörtenhuber & Thomas Lindenthal & Elisabeth Quendler & Werner Zollitsch, 2021. "Elements of Social Sustainability among Austrian Hay Milk Farmers: Between Satisfaction and Stress," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
    10. Margherita Masi & Yari Vecchio & Gregorio Pauselli & Jorgelina Di Pasquale & Felice Adinolfi, 2021. "A Typological Classification for Assessing Farm Sustainability in the Italian Bovine Dairy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-14, June.
    11. Henriette Beye & Friedhelm Taube & Tobias W. Donath & Jan Schulz & Mario Hasler & Tim Diekötter, 2023. "Species Enriched Grass–Clover Pastures Show Distinct Carabid Assemblages and Enhance Endangered Species of Carabid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Compared to Continuous Maize," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-27, March.
    12. Susanne Hoischen-Taubner & Jonas Habel & Verena Uhlig & Eva-Marie Schwabenbauer & Theresa Rumphorst & Lara Ebert & Detlev Möller & Albert Sundrum, 2021. "The Whole and the Parts—A New Perspective on Production Diseases and Economic Sustainability in Dairy Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Sara Zanni & Mariana Roccaro & Federica Bocedi & Angelo Peli & Alessandra Bonoli, 2022. "LCA to Estimate the Environmental Impact of Dairy Farms: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, May.
    14. Stefan Gunnarsson & Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist & Torun Wallgren & Per Hjelmstedt & Ulf Sonesson & Helena Hansson, 2020. "Systematic Mapping of Research on Farm-Level Sustainability in Finfish Aquaculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-13, November.
    15. Nanang Dwi Wahyono & Niswatin Hasanah & Rita Parmawati & Wing-Keung Wong, 2023. "Improving Economic Welfare through Capital Development: Case Study of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Pujon District," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-13, May.
    16. Chrysanthi Charatsari & Iosif Fragkoulis & Evaggelos Anagnou & Evagelos D. Lioutas, 2022. "Can Adult Education Boost Sustainability Transitions? Some Evidence from Farmers and Teachers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-13, August.
    17. Rūta Savickienė & Aistė Galnaitytė, 2024. "Unveiling Determinants of Successful Dairy Farm Performance from Dairy Exporting EU Countries," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, July.
    18. Rina Nuryati & Lies Sulistyowati & Trisna Insan Noor & Iwan Setiawan, 2024. "Innovation for development of sustainable integrated plantation polyculture on dry land: Using Structural Equation Modelling," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(6), pages 291-308.
    19. Liyun Zhu & Alfons Oude Lansink, 2022. "Dynamic sustainable productivity growth of Dutch dairy farming," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-19, February.
    20. Evangelos Kallitsis & Anna Korre & Dimitris Mousamas & Pavlos Avramidis, 2020. "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Mediterranean Sea Bass and Sea Bream," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-11, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:1:p:181-:d:1032201. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.