RT Journal Article
T1 Enteric methane emissions in dairy cows with different genetic groups in the humid tropics of Costa Rica
A1 Villanueva, Cristóbal
A1 Ibrahim, Muhammad
A1 Castillo Rodríguez, Cristina
K1 Dry matter intake
K1 Crossbreds
K1 Emissions intensity
K1 Lactation stage
K1 Methane conversion factor
K1 Purebreds
AB Enteric methane (CH4) is one of the main greenhouse gases emitted in livestock production systems with ruminants. Among the options to reduce such emissions, animal genetics is one of the factors that is taking relevance in recent years. The aim of the present study was to assess the emission of enteric CH4 in dairy cows with different genetic backgrounds. Sixteen cows belonging to the following three genetic groups were selected for this study: seven F1 (50% Jersey × 50% Gyr), five Triple cross (50% Jersey × 31% Holstein × 19% Sahiwal) and four Jersey. Enteric CH4 emissions were measured in all cows for 15 months, at the middle of each month, using the SF6 technique. Enteric CH4 emissions did not differ (p > 0.05) among genetic groups, although it varied with the stage of lactation, due to differences in milk yield and dry matter intake (DMI). Pasture DMI and the intensity of CH4 emissions (g kg−1 DMI) differed (p < 0.05) between dry and lactating cows, with higher DMI in the lactation period, while CH4 emission intensity was higher for dry cows. Cows with the highest proportion of Bos taurus genes presented a higher annual mean methane conversion factor (Ym), with 7.22, 7.05 and 5.90% for the Triple cross, purebred Jersey and F1, respectively. In conclusion, non-significant differences in enteric CH4 emissions and Ym were detected among dairy cows with different genetic backgrounds. However, F1 cows tended to show lower enteric CH4 emission and Ym, compared to those with more Bos taurus genes.
PB MDPI
SN 2076-2615
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/33669
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/33669
LA eng
NO Villanueva, C., Ibrahim, M. & Castillo, C. (2023). Enteric methane emissions in dairy cows with different genetic groups in the humid tropics of Costa Rica. Animals, 13(4), 730-. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040730
NO This research was funded by the project entitled “Developing Competitive Livestock Production Systems with Low GHG Emissions in Central America”, funded by FONTAGRO and the Government of New Zealand. Moreover, some support was obtained from the Costa Rican Low emissions Livestock Production, financed by USAID and administered by the USDA.
DS Minerva
RD 28 abr 2026