Asparagopsis taxiformis inclusion in grass silage-based diets fed to Norwegian red dairy cows: effects on ruminal fermentation, milk yield and enteric methane emission

Efforts to mitigate enteric methane (CH4) emission from ruminants by using the red macroalgae Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT) have demonstrated promising results both in vitro and in vivo. We assessed the effects of wild harvested and freeze-dried AT inclusion in the grass silage-based diets of Norwegian Red dairy cows on feed intake, milk yield and composition, rumen fermentation and CH4 emission. Fifteen (9 rumen cannulated and 6 intact) multiparous cows with an average (±SD) covariate period milk yield (MY) of 33.0 (3.8) kg/day were used in the experiment. The cows were divided into three groups (n = 5) after blocking for cannulation, and initial MY. After feeding on a common diet for 21 days (i.e., Covariate period), the groups were randomly allocated to three treatments: Control (no seaweed), 0.125%AT (Control + 0.125% AT, on organic matter (OM) basis) and 0.25%AT (Control + 0.25% AT, on OM basis). The cows were adapted to their diets for 13 days, followed by 39 experimental days for data collection. Inclusion of AT at 0.125% level did not affect dry matter intake (DMI, kg/d) but signicantly reduced both MY and energy corrected milk yield (ECM, kg/d) (P < 0.05) with a tendency for lower CH4 production (g/d) relative to the control group. Dry matter intake, ECM and CH4 production were reduced (P < 0.05) by 0.25%AT relative to the Control group. Apparent total tract nutrient digestibility (%), ECM per kg DMI, CH4 yield (g CH4/kg DMI) and CH4 intensity (g CH4/kg ECM) were not affected by AT inclusion. Inclusion of AT, at both levels, significantly reduced (P < 0.05) ruminal fluid total short chain fatty acids and molar proportions of actate, while increasing (P < 0.05) the molar proportion of propionate and isovalerate. Inclusion of AT decreased contents (%) of milk fat (P = 0.018) and protein (P = 0.010) resulting in significanly lower fat and protein yields. Lactose content (%) was higher for the AT groups (P = 0.021) but this did not compensate for lower MY resulting in lower milk lactose yield. Milk iodine content increased in a dose dependent manner with AT inclusion. In conclusion, AT inclusion at 0.25% level reduced CH4 emission from dairy cows with a grass silage-based diets. However, the reduced DMI for the 0.25%AT group along with reduced MY and elevated milk iodine content for both AT groups, for this particular harvest of AT, would suggest possible constraints for large scale inclusion of AT in dairy cow production.