Estimated enteric methane emissions and performance of crossbred dairy cows in two location-based feeding systems in northern Ethiopia

Abstract

This observational survey-based study provided a descriptive comparison of methane (CH 4 ) emissions and performance of crossbred dairy cows across two location-based feeding systems in northern Ethiopia. Input and output data were collected from 24 dairy farms through a combination of questionnaire survey and direct on-farm measurements. CH 4 emissions were estimated via Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 procedures. The findings revealed that cows in Agula had numerically shorter age at first service (AFS; mean ± standard deviation (SD); 13.92 ± 0.83 months) and calving intervals (CI 13.75 ± 0.50 months) than those in Wukro (14.63 ± 0.29 and 14.38 ± 0.48 months, respectively). The average daily milk yield (ADMY) was numerically higher for cows in Agula (13.88 ± 2.85 L, L) than those in Wukro (12.79 ± 2.21 L). Major challenges in milk production in the study area included limited space, feed shortages and high feed costs. The estimated CH 4 emissions per mature, crossbred dairy cow were numerically higher in Agula (100 kg CH 4 head −1 yr −1 ) than those estimated for Wukro cows (88 kg CH 4 head −1 yr −1 ). However, on a per-kg-milk basis, the two location-based feeding systems were comparable in estimated CH 4 intensity, while the feeding system in Agula was associated with numerically higher milk yield and shorter AFS/CI.