A field study on early lactating crossbred cows (n=25) was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding balanced ration on milk production, enteric methane emission and metabolic profile.
Nutritional status of animals was analyzed by using ration balancing software package and microbial protein synthesis was calculated by estimation of urinary purine derivatives.
Baseline methane emission of cows was measured using sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique, thereafter the ration was balanced as per their nutrient requirements. After 30 days of feeding a balanced ration, the methane emission was measured again.
Analysis of feeding trial revealed that the dietary intakes of protein, energy and calcium were higher by 18.1, 8.0 and 19.5%, respectively whereas, phosphorus intake was lower by 9.0% in cows than their requirement. On feeding a balanced ration, milk yield, fat and 4% FCM yield were unaffected. Balancing of ration reduced enteric methane emission in terms of g/d and g/kg milk yield by 10.1 (P<0.01) and 13.5% (P<0.05), respectively, which further reduced the part of dietary gross energy loss as methane by 10.3% (P<0.01). Intestinal flow of microbial nitrogen increased by 51.4 g/d (P<0.01), whereas, faecal nitrogen excretion reduced by 19.4% (P<0.01) on feeding a balanced ration. Lower faecal parasitic egg count (43.8%; P<0.01) and improved levels of plasma immunoglobulins IgG (38.0%; P<0.01) and IgM (35.9%; P<0.05) were also recorded.
Results of the study indicated that a balanced ration has the potential for improving microbial protein synthesis along with reducing enteric methane emission and faecal nitrogen excretion in lactating cows under field conditions.
-NDDB
