Prediction of enteric methane production, yield and intensity in dairy cattle using an intercontinental database

Abstract

Enteric methane (CH?) production from cattle contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. Measurement of enteric CH? is complex, expensive and impractical at large scales; therefore, models are commonly used to predict CH? production. However, building robust prediction models requires extensive data from animals under different management systems worldwide. The objectives of this study were to (1) collate a global database of enteric CH? production from individual lactating dairy cattle; (2) determine the availability of key variables for predicting enteric CH? production (g/d per cow), yield [g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)], and intensity (g/kg energy corrected milk) and their respective relationships; (3) develop intercontinental and regional models and cross-validate their performance; and (4) assess the trade-off between availability of on-farm inputs and CH? prediction accuracy. The intercontinental database covered Europe (EU), the US (US), Chile (CL), Australia (AU), and New Zealand (NZ). A sequential approach was taken by incrementally adding key variables to develop models with increasing complexity. Methane emissions were predicted by fitting linear mixed models. Within model categories, an intercontinental model with the most available independent variables performed best with root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) as a percentage of mean observed value of 16.6, 14.4, and 19.8% for intercontinental, EU, and US regions, respectively. Less complex models requiring only DMI had predictive ability comparable to complex models. Enteric CH? production, yield, and intensity prediction models developed on an intercontinental basis had similar performance across regions, however, intercepts and slopes were different with implications for prediction. Revised CH? emission conversion factors for specific regions are required to improve CH? production estimates in national inventories. In conclusion, information on DMI is required for good prediction, and other factors such as dietary NDF concentration, improve the prediction. For enteric CH? yield and intensity prediction, information on milk yield and composition is required for better estimation.

Citation

Niu, M., Kebreab, E., Hristov, A. N., Oh, J., Arndt, C., Bannink, A., …Yu, Z. (2018). Prediction of enteric methane production, yield and intensity in dairy cattle using an intercontinental database. Global Change Biology, 24(8), https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14094

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 29, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Mar 8, 2018
• Publication Date: Aug 30, 2018
• Deposit Date: Feb 15, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 8, 2018
• Journal: Global Change Biology
• Print ISSN: 1354-1013
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2486
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 8
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14094
• Keywords: Dairy cows; Enteric methane emissions; Prediction models; Dry matter intake; Methane yield; Methane intensity
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/949184
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.14094/full