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Use of Monensin Controlled-Release Capsules to Reduce Methane Emissions and Improve Milk Production of Dairy Cows Offered Pasture Supplemented with Grain

C. Grainger^*,1, M. J. Auldist^*,2, T. Clarke^*, K. A. Beauchemin, S. M. McGinn, M. C. Hannah^*, R. J. Eckard and L. B. Lowe

^* Department of Primary Industries, Ellinbank 3821, Victoria, Australia
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1, Canada
Faculty of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
Elanco Animal Health, Macquarie Park, New South Wales 2113, Australia

¹ Corresponding author: chris.grainger{at}dpi.vic.gov.au

We examined the effects of monensin, provided by controlled-release capsules, on the enteric methane emissions and milk production of dairy cows receiving ryegrass pasture and grain. In a grazing experiment, 60 Holstein-Friesian cows were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 groups (control or monensin). Cows in the monensin group received 2 controlled-release capsules, with the second capsule administered 130 d after the first. Milk production was measured for 100 d following insertion of each capsule. The sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique was used to measure enteric methane emissions for 4 d starting on d 25 and 81 after insertion of the first capsule, and on d 83 after insertion of the second capsule. All cows grazed together as a single herd on a predominantly ryegrass sward and received 5 kg/d of grain (as-fed basis). In a second experiment, 7 pairs of lactating dairy cows (control and monensin) were used to determine the effects of monensin controlled-release capsules on methane emissions and dry matter intake. Methane emissions were measured on d 75 after capsule insertion by placing cows in respiration chambers for 3 d. Cows received fresh ryegrass pasture harvested daily and 5 kg/d of grain. The release rate of monensin from the capsules used in both experiments was 240 ± 0.072 mg/d, determined over a 100-d period in ruminally cannulated cows. The monensin dose was calculated to be 12 to 14.5 mg/kg of dry matter intake. There was no effect of monensin on methane production in either the grazing experiment (g/d, g/kg of milk solids) or the chamber experiment (g/d, g/kg of dry matter intake). In the grazing study, there was no effect of monensin on milk yield, but monensin increased milk fat yield by 51.5 g/d and tended to increase milk protein yield by 18.5 g/d. Monensin controlled-release capsules improved the efficiency of milk production of grazing dairy cows by increasing the yield of milk solids. However, a higher dose rate of monensin may be needed to reduce methane emissions from cows grazing pasture.

Key Words: dairy cow • monensin • methane • pasture diet

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