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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #338564
Title: Milk and methane production in lactating dairy cattle consuming distillers dried grains and solubles or canola meal

Author
item MYERS, M - University Of Nebraska
item Brown-Brandl, Tami
item JUDY, J - University Of Nebraska
item HERRICK, K - Poet
item KONONOFF, P - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/3/2017
Publication Date: 6/1/2017
Citation: Myers, M.A., Brown-Brandl, T.M., Judy, J.V., Herrick, K.J., Kononoff, P.J. 2017. Milk and methane production in lactating dairy cattle consuming distillers dried grains and solubles or canola meal [abstract]. Journal of Dairy Science. 100(Suppl. 2):113.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The use of byproducts as an alternative feed source is becoming increasingly popular among dairy producers. A study using 12 multiparous (79 ± 16 DIM) (mean ± SD) lactating Jersey cows, was conducted over 5 months to evaluate the effects of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) or canola meal (CM) on milk and gas production. A replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design was used to compare four different dietary treatments. Treatments were composed of a control (CON) containing corn and soybean, a treatment diet containing 10% (DM basis) DDGS supplied by POET LLC (Sioux Falls, SD) (POET), 10% DDGS treatment with an alternative distillers grains source (DDGS), and a 10% canola meal (CAN) treatment. Indirect calorimeters (headboxes) were used to sample methane. Dry matter intake was similar (P = 0.78) between all treatments (17.66, 17.49, 17.02, and 17.70± 0.78 kg/day for CON, POET, DDGS and CAN, respectively). Milk production was not different (P = 0.55) for CON, POET, DDGS, and CAN (23.41, 24.20, 24.41, and 24.18± 0.80 kg/d, respectively). Milk protein percentage was similar across treatments (P = 0.43). Milk fat percentage was similar across all treatments (P = 0.94). The addition of POET, CAN, or DDGS did not affect total methane produced (P = 0.54) compared to CON diet (333.87, 328.73, 336.85, and 360.29 ± 19.59 L/d for CON, POET, DDGS, and CAN, respectively). When expressing methane per unit of DMI; all treatments were similar (19.03, 18.96, 19.84, and 20.43, ± 1.26 L/kg/d for CON, POET, DDGS, and CAN, respectively, P = 0.75). Heat production per day of metabolic body weight had a tendency to be greatest in CAN (P = 0.06) followed by POET, DDGS and CON (203.83, 210.73, 227.70, and 215.23 ± 6.27 heat production/d/MBW, respectively). Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) was highest in CON (P = 0.001) followed by CAN, DDGS, and POET (20.66, 18.06, 19.95, and 18.07 ± 0.62 mg/dl, respectively). Results of this study indicate that milk production, milk components and methane production are not adversely affected when feeding POETDDGS, alternative source of DDGS, or canola meal.