Body fat mobilization in early lactation influences methane production of dairy cows

Abstract

Long-chain fatty acids mobilized during early lactation of dairy cows are increasingly used as energy substrate at the expense of acetate. As the synthesis of acetate in the rumen is closely linked to methane (CH ₄) production, we hypothesized that decreased acetate utilization would result in lower ruminal acetate levels and thus CH ₄ production. Twenty heifers were sampled for blood, rumen fluid and milk, and CH ₄ production was measured in respiration chambers in week −4, +5, +13 and +42 relative to first parturition. Based on plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration determined in week +5, animals were grouped to the ten highest (HM; NEFA > 580 μmol) and ten lowest (LM; NEFA < 580 μmol) mobilizing cows. Dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and ruminal short-chain fatty acids did not differ between groups, but CH ₄/DMI was lower in HM cows in week +5. There was a negative regression between plasma NEFA and plasma acetate, between plasma NEFA and CH ₄/DMI and between plasma cholecystokinin and CH ₄/DMI in week +5. Our data show for the first time that fat mobilization of the host in early lactation is inversely related with ruminal CH ₄ production and that this effect is not attributed to different DMI.