Reducing methane production with corn oil and calcium sulfate: Responses on whole-animal energy and nitrogen balance in dairy cattle

Authors: JUDY, J - University Of Nebraska; BACHMAN, G - University Of Nebraska; Brown-Brandl, Tami; FERNANDO, S - University Of Nebraska; Hales Paxton, Kristin; MILLER, P - University Of Nebraska; STOWELL, R - University Of Nebraska; KONONOFF, P - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2018
Publication Date: 3/1/2019
Citation: Judy, J.V., Bachman, G.C., Brown-Brandl, T.M., Fernando, S.C., Hales, K.E., Miller, P.S., Stowell, R.R., Kononoff, P.J. 2019. Reducing methane production with corn oil and calcium sulfate: Responses on whole-animal energy and nitrogen balance in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science. 102(3):2054-2067. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018.14567.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-14567

Interpretive Summary: Addition of fat and calcium sulfate to diets fed to ruminants has resulted in a reduction in methane production, but the effects of fat and calcium sulfate on energy balance in dairy cows has not been studied. A study using indirect calorimetry and 16 multiparous lactating dairy cows was conducted to determine how mitigating methane by adding corn oil or calcium sulfate to diets containing reduced-fat distillers grains, affect energy and nitrogen balance in dairy cattle. Milk production was increased diets containing distillers grains compared to diets without. Addition of calcium sulfate and corn oil tended to reduce methane production. Tissue energy was greater when reduced fat distillers grains was fed. Nitrogen balance was greater when reduced fat distillers grains was fed than corn oil. This study shows that addition of corn oil and calcium sulfate can decrease methane production without negatively affecting production.

Technical Abstract: The addition of fat and calcium sulfate to diets fed to ruminants has resulted in a reduction in methane production, but the effects on energy balance have not been studied. A study using indirect calorimetry and 16 multiparous (8 Holstein and 8 Jersey; 78 ± 15 d in milk; mean ± standard deviation) lactating dairy cows was conducted to determine how mitigating methane production by adding corn oil or calcium sulfate to diets containing reduced-fat distillers grains affects energy and nitrogen balance. A replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 35-d periods (28 d of adaption and 4 d of collections) was used to compare 4 different dietary treatments. Treatments were composed of a control (CON) diet, which did not contain reduced-fat distillers grain and solubles (DDGS), and treatment diets containing 20% (dry matter basis) DDGS (DG), 20% DDGS with 1.38% (dry matter basis) added corn oil (CO), and 20% DDGS with 0.93% (dry matter basis) added calcium sulfate (CaS). Compared with CON, dry matter intake was not affected by treatment, averaging 29.6 ± 0.67 kg/d. Milk production was increased for diets containing DDGS compared with CON (26.3 vs. 27.8 ± 0.47 kg/d for CON vs. DDGS, respectively), likely supported by increased energy intake. Compared with CON, energy-corrected milk was greater in DG and CO (30.1 vs. 31.4, 31.7, and 31.0 ± 0.67 kg/d for CON, DG, CO, and CaS, respectively). Compared with CON, the addition of calcium sulfate and corn oil to diets containing DDGS reduced methane production per kg of dry matter intake (22.3, 19.9, and 19.6 ± 0.75 L/kg per d for CON, CO, and CaS, respectively). Similarly, methane production per kilogram of energycorrected milk was reduced with the addition of calcium sulfate and corn oil to diets containing DDGS (14.2, 12.5, and 12.4 ± 0.50 L/kg per d for CON, CO, and CaS, respectively). Compared with CON and CaS, the intake of digestible energy was greater for DG and CO treatments (57.7, 62.1, 62.0, and 59.0 ± 1.38 Mcal/d for CON, DG, CO, and CaS, respectively). Intake of metabolizable energy was greater in all treatments containing DDGS compared with CON (50.5 vs. 54.0 ± 1.08 Mcal/d for CON vs. DDGS, respectively). Net balance (milk plus tissue energy) per unit of dry matter was greater in CO (containing DDGS and oil) than CON (1.55 vs. 1.35 ± 0.06 Mcal/kg for CO vs. CON, respectively). Tissue energy was greater in DG and CO compared with CON (6.08, 7.04, and 3.16 ± 0.99 Mcal/d for DG, CO, and CON, respectively. Results of this study suggest that the addition of oil and calcium sulfate to diets containing DDGS may be a viable option to reduce methane production and in the case of oil also improve net energy balance in lactating dairy cows.