Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran
2
Professor, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
4
Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
5
Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University, USA
Abstract
The methane production from ruminant production system was estimated to reach 250-500 L per animal per day which has been reported to contribute up to 8-10 % of global warming during the next 50-100 years. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation among methane emission (predicted by volatile fatty acids) with milk production traits, its components and breeding values (BV) of these traits in Iranian Holstein cattle. The rumen digesta was obtained from 150 cattle through stomach tubing and this population divided into 2 groups with 75 cattle in each (the groups have different milk production BV). Data were analyzed by R.3.3.0. The results showed that methane emission per unit of milk and fat were different in the two groups (P<0.0001). Also, the BVs of milk production, fat and protein traits and daily production of milk, fat and protein had weak to moderate negative correlation with methane emission per unit(P<0.05). The highest correlation was observed between daily production of fat with methane emission per unit of fat (-0.79) as well as daily milk production with methane emission per unit of milk (-0.62). These results showed that methane emission may be reduced by indirect selection per generation for the traits had a high correlation with the gas (daily production of milk and fat).
Keywords