Progressive inclusion of pearl millet herbage as a supplement for dairy cows fed mixed rations: Effects on methane emissions, dry matter intake, and milk production

Abstract

The inclusion of grazing in dairy feeding systems can improve animal welfare and reduce feed costs and labor for animal care and manure management. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of including pearl millet herbage (Pennisetum glaucum ‘Campeiro') as a supplement for dairy cows fed total mixed rations (TMR). The treatments included 100% TMR offered ad libitum (control, TMR100), 75% TMR ad libitum intake + access to grazing of a pearl millet pasture between the morning and afternoon milkings (7 h/d; pTMR75), and 50% TMR ad libitum intake + access to grazing of a pearl millet pasture between the morning and afternoon milkings (7 h/d; pTMR50). Nine multiparous Holstein and F1 Jersey × Holstein cows were distributed in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 periods of 21 d (a 16-d adaptation period and a 5-d measurement period). Cows in the TMR75 and TMR50 groups strip-grazed a pearl millet pasture with pre- and postgrazing sward height targets of 60 and 30 cm, respectively. The herbage dry matter intake (DMI) increased with decreasing mixed ration supplies, and the total DMI decreased linearly from 19.0 kg/d in the TMR100 group to 18.0 kg/d in the pTMR50 group. Milk production decreased linearly from 24.0 kg/d in the TMR100 group to 22.4 kg/d in the pTMR50 group, and energy-corrected milk (ECM) production decreased linearly from 26.0 kg/d to 23.6 kg/d. Enteric methane (CH4) emissions decreased linearly from 540 g/d in the TMR100 group to 436 g/d in the pTMR50 group, and CH4 yields (g/kg of DMI) tended to decrease linearly. The CH4 intensity was similar between treatments, averaging 20 g of CH4/kg of ECM. The inclusion of pearl millet herbage in the dairy cow diets decreased the total DMI and milk production to a small extent without affecting CH4 intensity (g/kg of ECM).