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Exploring indicators of genetic selection using the sniffer method to reduce methane emissions from Holstein cows |
Yoshinobu Uemoto1,* 
, Tomohisa Tomaru2
, Masahiro Masuda3
, Kota Uchisawa3
, Kenji Hashiba3
, Yuki Nishikawa4
, Kohei Suzuki4
, Takatoshi Kojima4
, Tomoyuki Suzuki5
, Fuminori Terada6
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1Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
2Gunma Prefectural Livestock Experiment Station, Maebashi 371-0103, Japan
3Niikappu Station, National Livestock Breeding Center (NLBC), Hidaka 056-0141, Japan
4Head office, National Livestock Breeding Center (NLBC), Nishigo 961-8061, Japan
5Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Nasushiobara 329- 2793, Japan
6Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Tsukuba 305-0901, Japan |
Correspondence:
Yoshinobu Uemoto, Tel: +81-22-757-4113, Fax: +81-22-757-4117, Email: yoshinobu.uemoto.e7@tohoku.ac.jp
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Received: 31 March 2023 • Revised: 27 July 2023 • Accepted: 24 August 2023 |
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| Abstract |
Objective
This study aimed to evaluate whether the methane (CH4) to carbon dioxide (CO2) ratio (CH4/CO2) and methane-related traits obtained by the sniffer method can be used as indicators for genetic selection of Holstein cows with lower CH4 emissions.
Methods
The sniffer method was used to simultaneously measure the concentrations of CH4 and CO2 during milking in each milking box of the automatic milking system to obtain CH4/CO2. Methane-related traits, which included CH4 emissions, CH4 per energy-corrected milk, methane conversion factor (MCF), and residual CH4, were calculated. First, we investigated the impact of the model with and without body weight (BW) on the lactation stage and parity for predicting methane-related traits using a first on-farm dataset (Farm 1; 400 records for 74 Holstein cows). Second, we estimated the genetic parameters for CH4/CO2 and methane-related traits using a second on-farm dataset (Farm 2; 520 records for 182 Holstein cows). Third, we compared the repeatability and environmental effects on these traits in both farm datasets.
Results
The data from Farm 1 revealed that MCF can be reliably evaluated during the lactation stage and parity, even when BW is excluded from the model. Farm 2 data revealed low heritability and moderate repeatability for CH4/CO2 (0.12 and 0.46, respectively) and MCF (0.13 and 0.38, respectively). In addition, the estimated genetic correlation of milk yield with CH4/CO2 was low (0.07) and that with MCF was moderate (–0.53). The on-farm data indicated that CH4/CO2 and MCF could be evaluated consistently during the lactation stage and parity with moderate repeatability on both farms.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated the on-farm applicability of the sniffer method for selecting cows with low CH4 emissions. |
| Keywords:
Commercial Dairy Farms; Enteric Methane Emission; Genetic Correlation; Heritability; Repeatability |
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