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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Livestock, Forage and Pasture Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #432374
Research Project: Integrated Research to Enhance Forage and Food Production from Southern Great Plains Agroecosystems

Location: Livestock, Forage and Pasture Management Research Unit

Title: Relationship of respiratory gas fluxes between beef cows and their calves

Author
item Gunter, Stacey
item Friend, Emalee

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2026
Publication Date: 7/10/2026
Citation: Gunter, S.A., Friend, E. 2026. Relationship of respiratory gas fluxes between beef cows and their calves. Journal of Animal Science. 104(4):44.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Twenty-nine (BW = 353 ± 1.5 kg) Red Angus heifers and their offspring were used to exam similarity between the respiration gas parameters of each dam and her offspring over a 4-year period (8 pair, Year 1; 11 pair, Year 2, 4 pair, Year 3; 6 pair, Year 4). Heifers’ CH4 and CO2 emissions, and O2 consumption were measured after breeding starting in January over a 70-day period using an automated head-chamber system (AHCS; GreenFeed, C-Lock, Inc., Rapid City, SD) that measured flux of all 3 gases. While gas fluxes were measured, heifers grazed native mixed-grass prairie starting in January and were offered a daily supplement of 1.0 kg of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pellets via the AHCS. Heifers were artificially inseminated in December of each year using sexed semen (female) to a single Angus sire. The gas flux of the calves from this sire (BW = 281 ± 1.3 kg; 28 heifers and 1 steer) were measured at about 11 months of age over a 70-day period. Like the dams, during their measurement period that started in August, the offspring grazed native mixed-grass prairie (same pasture) and were offered a daily supplement of 1.0 kg of alfalfa pellets via the AHCS. Means for CH4 and CO2 emissions, O2 consumption, CH4:CO2 ratio, respiratory quotient, and heat production were compared between dams and their progeny by regressing maternal parameters on the parameters of the calves using beginning dam and offspring BW as covariates. Methane and CO2 emissions of the dams and their progeny had a very strong Pearson’s correlation (r = 0.95 and 0.87, respectively). Oxygen consumption had a strong Pearson’s correlation among dams and their progeny (r = 0.78). Heat production and the CH4:CO2 ratio also had a moderate and strong Pearson’s correlation (r = 0.80 and 0.91, respectively). The respiratory quotient correlation was fair (r = 0.53). These results indicated that CH4 and CO2 emissions, O2 consumption, the CH4:CO2 ratio, and heat production by progeny have a moderate to strong Pearson’s correlations with the dam’s emissions. But the correlation between dam’s and their offspring for respiratory quotient was only fair. Hence, even with this small dataset, there is evidence that beef cattle can potentially be selected for lower greenhouse gas emissions.