title: An inhibitor persistently decreased enteric methane emission from dairy cows with no negative effect on milk production.
abstract: A quarter of all anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States are from enteric fermentation, primarily from ruminant livestock. This study was undertaken to test the effect of a methane inhibitor, 3-nitrooxypropanol (3NOP), on enteric methane emission in lactating Holstein cows. An experiment was conducted using 48 cows in a randomized block design with a 2-wk covariate period and a 12-wk data collection period. Feed intake, milk production, and fiber digestibility were not affected by the inhibitor. Milk protein and lactose yields were increased by 3NOP. Rumen methane emission was linearly decreased by 3NOP, averaging about 30% lower than the control. Methane emission per unit of feed dry matter intake or per unit of energy-corrected milk were also about 30% less for the 3NOP-treated cows. On average, the body weight gain of 3NOP-treated cows was 80% greater than control cows during the 12-wk experiment. The experiment demonstrated that the methane inhibitor 3NOP, applied at 40 to 80 mg/kg feed dry matter, decreased methane emissions from high-producing dairy cows by 30% and increased body weight gain without negatively affecting feed intake or milk production and composition. The inhibitory effect persisted over 12 wk of treatment, thus offering an effective methane mitigation practice for the livestock industries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; anh13@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Hristov
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;
authors.forename: Joonpyo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giallongo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;
authors.forename: Tyler W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Frederick
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;
authors.forename: Holley L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil;
authors.forename: Antonio F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.affiliation: Agriculture Research Division, Department of Economic Development Jobs Transport and Resources, Ellinbank Centre, Ellinbank 3821, Victoria, Australia;
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Moate
authors.affiliation: Agriculture Research Division, Department of Economic Development Jobs Transport and Resources, Ellinbank Centre, Ellinbank 3821, Victoria, Australia;
authors.forename: Matthew H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0663-738X
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Deighton
authors.affiliation: Agriculture Research Division, Department of Economic Development Jobs Transport and Resources, Ellinbank Centre, Ellinbank 3821, Victoria, Australia;
authors.forename: S Richard O
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition and Health, DSM Nutritional Products, Basel CH-4002, Switzerland;
authors.forename: Maik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kindermann
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Animal Nutrition and Health, DSM Nutritional Products France, Saint Louis Cedex 68305, France.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duval
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001105:Archaea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005740:Gases; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000455:Medicago sativa; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D020005:Propanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012417:Rumen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: C000603069:3-nitrooxypropanol; D005740:Gases; D020005:Propanols; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane
keywords: 3-nitrooxypropanol; dairy cattle; enteric methane; hydrogen; livestock