JDS communications最新文献

{"title":"In vitro screening of dihalomethanes as potential methane inhibitors in dairy cows","authors":"M. Thorsteinsson,&nbsp;M.O. Nielsen","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0700","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Volatile halogenated compounds are known to possess antimethanogenic properties with most in vivo studies focusing on trihalomethanes. However, concerns can be raised in relation to the use of these compounds as feed additives due to the transfer of halogenated metabolites into milk, which may pose a threat to consumer health. Hence, the objective of this in vitro study was to investigate the CH₄-mitigating potential of 5 dihalomethanes (DHM) to potentially reduce the transfer of halogenated compounds when used as feed additives in the future. The DHM, dibromomethane (BM), bromoiodomethane (BIM), dichloromethane (CM), chloroiodomethane (CIM), and diiodomethane (DIIM) were dissolved in 99% ethanol, reaching final solutions of 2 m<em>M</em>. In 2 separate runs, 0.1 mL of the solutions were incubated as triplicates in buffered rumen fluid together with 0.5 ± 0.02 g (± SD) of corn silage. Similarly, corn silage and buffered rumen fluid with the addition of 0.1 mL of 99% ethanol served as control and blank samples, respectively. Accumulated gas production was determined using the ANKOM^RF system equipped with airtight gasbags. Gas composition in collected gas was determined after 24 h, whereas the concentration of VFA in the fermented rumen fluid was determined after 48 h of incubation. All DHM except CM resulted in significant reductions and increases in CH₄ and H₂ production, respectively, compared with the standard feed incubated without DHM. Hence, BIM, BM, and DIIM reduced CH₄ production per gram of incubated DM by more than 90%, whereas CIM reduced CH₄ production by 58% per gram of incubated DM. Reductions in CH₄ production were accompanied by significant reductions in total VFA production, proportions of acetate in total VFA, and increases in proportions of propionate compared with the control treatment. In conclusion, BM, BIM, DIIM, and to a lesser extent CIM were efficient CH₄ inhibitors; however, the DHM also had negative effects on fermentation parameters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 329-332"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum to “Insulin, IGF-I, and lactoferrin concentrations and yields and their associations with other components within colostrum, transition, and whole milk of primiparous and multiparous Holstein cattle” (JDS Commun. 6:137–142)","authors":"","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2025-6-3-484","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2025-6-3-484","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Page 484"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Benchmarking hydration, navel health, and transfer of passive immunity in surplus dairy calves","authors":"Ting-Yu Cheng ,&nbsp;Jessica A. Pempek ,&nbsp;David L. Renaud ,&nbsp;Kathryn L. Proudfoot ,&nbsp;Zachary England ,&nbsp;Devon J. Wilson ,&nbsp;Gregory Habing","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0693","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Surplus dairy calves, or calves that are not used to replace the milking herd, are often sold within the first week of life and can sometimes receive suboptimal early-life care. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of delivering benchmarking reports to source dairy farms on the health of subsequent surplus calf cohorts. Briefly, 10 farms were first blocked by herd size category, and within each block, farms were alternately assigned to intervention and control in descending order of the previously measured proportion of calves with adequate passive transfer immunity (i.e., ≥5.8 g/dL total serum protein). After the initial randomization, 3 additional farms were enrolled by convenience to increase the statistical power, and one farm was assigned to the intervention group. Overall, 13 dairy farms were recruited and assigned to intervention (n = 6) and control (n = 7) groups. The intervention group received health benchmarking reports of surplus calves delivered to calf dealers halfway through the study period, whereas the control group received no reports. Between May 2021 and June 2022, a total of 282 and 371 calves enrolled from intervention and control farms, respectively, were assessed for hydration, navel health, and transfer of passive immunity (TPI). In brief, hydration was evaluated using the skin tent test and a 4-point scale, and navel health was assessed based on the width of umbilical cords using a 4-point scale. The TPI was assessed based on the concentration of total serum protein. In November 2021, benchmarking reports containing health metrics of calves from 13 farms during the first 6 mo of the study were delivered to 6 intervention farms. Differences in health metrics of subsequent surplus calf cohorts between intervention and control farms were investigated using generalized linear mixed models specified to recognize “farm” as the experimental unit. Prevalence of dehydration was decreased in calves from intervention farms compared with control farms after receiving the benchmarking reports (odds ratio = 0.19, 95% CI = [0.04, 0.90] %). There was no evidence of any differences in navel inflammation or failure in TPI associated with benchmarking reports. Results suggest delivering benchmarking reports to dairy producers may improve hydration in surplus calves. Nevertheless, additional methods should be investigated to improve calf health within the surplus calf production chain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 383-388"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Generative artificial intelligence tools in journal article preparation: A preliminary catalog of ethical considerations, opportunities, and pitfalls*","authors":"Robin R. White","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0707","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0707","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The launch of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools has catalyzed considerable discussion about the potential impacts of these systems within the scientific article preparation process. This symposium paper seeks to summarize current recommendations on the use of GenAI tools in scientific article preparation, and to provide speculations about the future challenges and opportunities of GenAI use in scientific publishing. Due to the dynamic nature of these tools and the rapid advancement of their sophistication, the most important recommendation is that ongoing engagement and discussion within the scientific community about these issues is critical. When using GenAI tools in scientific article preparation, humans are ultimately accountable and responsible for products produced. Given that accountability, an expert panel convened by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine recently proposed principles of GenAI use in science communication, including (1) transparent disclosure and attribution; (2) verification of AI-generated content and analyses; (3) documentation of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated data; (4) a focus on ethics and equity; and (5) continuous monitoring, oversight, and public engagement. In addition to the importance of human accountability, many publishers have established consistent policies suggesting that GenAI tools should not be used for peer reviewing, figure generation or manipulation, or assigned authorship on scientific articles. Along with the potential ethical challenges associated with GenAI use in scientific publishing, there are numerous potential benefits. Herein we summarize example conversations demonstrating the capacity of GenAI tools to support the article preparation process, and an example standard operating procedure for human-AI interaction in article preparation. Finally, diverse broader questions about the impact of GenAI tools on communication, knowledge, and advancement of science are raised for rumination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 452-457"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"No indication of highly pathogenic avian influenza infections in Dutch cows","authors":"N.D. Fabri ,&nbsp;I.M.G.A. Santman-Berends ,&nbsp;C.A.J. Roos ,&nbsp;G. van Schaik ,&nbsp;J. het Lam ,&nbsp;E.A. Germeraad ,&nbsp;M.H. Mars","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0703","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In March 2024, an infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 of the HA clade 2.3.4.4b was detected in dairy cows in Texas. Following this first detection, the virus was identified in multiple states in the United States, with spillover into other mammals. This raised concerns in the Netherlands that despite having an effective monitoring and surveillance system, H5N1 virus infections in Dutch cattle could have occurred. The aim of this study was therefore to retrospectively screen Dutch cattle for HPAI virus infections for the period between 2022 and 2024. A total of 2,190 archived cattle serum samples from 367 different herds were selected, with an average of 6 samples per herd. These samples were tested using an influenza A blocking ELISA. A Luminex H5/H7 assay was used to confirm and subtype ELISA-positive samples. The influenza A blocking ELISA detects antibodies against all influenza A virus subtypes, whereas the Luminex assay can differentiate antibodies against the surface proteins haemagglutinin (HA or H) 5 and 7 (H5/H7), and neuraminidases (NA or N) 1 to 9 (N1–N9). Four samples (0.2%) reacted positive in the influenza A blocking ELISA, all from different herds located in different parts of the Netherlands. However, all 4 samples tested negative in the Luminex H5/H7 assay, indicating that the samples did not have antibodies against H5, H7, and N1 to N9. The 99.8% specificity of the ELISA may explain the ELISA-positive results. The ELISA used in this study is a multispecies test that has not yet been validated for use in cattle. The duration of detectable antibodies in cattle is unknown, as is the sensitivity to detect past infections with influenza A virus subtypes in cattle for the Dutch situation. Therefore results should be interpreted with caution. The lack of detected antibody responses in cattle in the Netherlands from 2022 to 2024 aligns with the absence of any indication for clinical cases in Dutch cattle over recent years in the national monitoring and surveillance system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 394-399"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dam prepartum skeletal muscle reserves and supplementation with branched-chain volatile fatty acids during late gestation influence calf birth weight and calf muscle metabolic activity","authors":"Linda M. Beckett ,&nbsp;Brianna Gast ,&nbsp;Evy Tobolski ,&nbsp;Lauren Jones ,&nbsp;Kyrstin Gouveia ,&nbsp;Yu Han-Hallett ,&nbsp;Theresa Casey ,&nbsp;Jacquelyn P. Boerman","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0581","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dairy cattle mobilize skeletal muscle in the periparturient period to close energy and metabolizable protein gaps due to the high demands of the growing fetus and milk production. The objective of this study was to determine if the amount of dam prepartum muscle reserves and branched-chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFA) supplementation affected calf birth weight, calf circulating AA, calf semitendinosus muscle metabolic activity, and colostrum composition. We hypothesized that calves born to dams with higher prepartum muscle reserves and supplemented with BCVFA would be heavier, have greater muscle mass as determined by circulating creatinine, and have higher muscle metabolic activity compared with calves born to low-muscle dams not supplemented with BCVFA. At 42 d before expected calving (BEC), the depth of the longissimus dorsi muscle was measured via ultrasound and cows were classified as high muscle (HM; &gt;4.6 cm) or low muscle (LM; ≤4.6 cm) and then randomly assigned to either control (CON) diet, which consisted of soy hulls or calcium salt products of BCVFA that were top dressed from 42 d BEC to parturition. The final study design was a 2 × 2 factorial of muscle reserves and BCVFA supplementation, resulting in LM-CON (n = 8), LM-BCVFA (n = 10), HM-CON (n = 12), and HM-BCVFA (n = 10). Calves were weighed and colostrum was fed to calves at 10% of birth BW and a second dose at 5% of birth BW. At 24 h postnatal, a jugular blood sample and biopsy from the semitendinosus muscle was collected. Metabolic activity of the semitendinosus muscle was measured with a resazurin based assay. Calves born to HM cows were heavier at birth and had higher circulating creatinine and higher muscle metabolic activity, but dam BCVFA supplementation did not affect any of these parameters. Neither maternal muscle reserves nor BCVFA affected calf muscle mTOR abundance or phosphorylation state, although LM-CON calves tended to have lower phosphorylated mTOR than other groups. The greater birth weight, greater circulating creatinine, and higher muscle metabolic activity of calves born to HM cows suggest that maternal muscle reserves influence fetal growth and muscle mass as well as muscle metabolic phenotype.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 293-298"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AnimalMotionViz: An interactive software tool for tracking and visualizing animal motion patterns using computer vision","authors":"Angelo L. De Castro ,&nbsp;Jin Wang ,&nbsp;Jessica G. Bonney-King ,&nbsp;Gota Morota ,&nbsp;Emily K. Miller-Cushon ,&nbsp;Haipeng Yu","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0706","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Monitoring the movement patterns of dairy cattle can provide important insight into space utilization or space occupancy in a barn. Although several precision livestock technologies have been developed to record dairy cattle movements, there is a lack of open-source tools to track and visualize group-level cattle movement patterns. Therefore, we developed an open-source computer vision software tool, AnimalMotionViz, that allows users to track and visualize group-level dairy cattle movement patterns using motion maps. The software comes with an easy-to-use web-based graphical user interface built with the Python Dash package. It implements a set of background subtraction algorithms in the OpenCV package to track animal motion patterns in real time. The software processes each frame of the input video and identifies the background and foreground using these algorithms. Foreground objects are then subtracted from the background across all frames and cumulatively overlaid on an empty mask image created with the first frame of the input video to visualize the intensity or frequency of motion across different regions. The user can generate a space-use distribution map in an image and video, a core and full-range map in an image, and also track specific regional motion with a custom mask. The software also returns the top 3 peak intensity locations, the total percentage of regions used, and the within-quadrant percentage of regions used. In four 5-min sample videos, quadrants with peak intensity of space use, as identified using the software, aligned with quadrants where calves spent the greatest duration of time, according to continuous recording of behavior from video. The space-use distribution and core and full-range maps generated by AnimalMotionViz can be used to understand space utilization or space occupation by dairy cattle, as well as to assess how space allocation affects their movement. Although AnimalMotionViz was developed to analyze dairy cattle data, its design provides the potential for broader application in studying the movement patterns of other animal species. We conclude that the newly developed AnimalMotionViz is a user-friendly and efficient tool to support research developments in precision livestock farming toward enhancing cattle management practices and improving pen designs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 416-421"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Data processing techniques to improve data integration from dairy farms","authors":"Jacquelyn P. Boerman ,&nbsp;Luiz F. Brito ,&nbsp;Maria E. Montes ,&nbsp;Jacob M. Maskal ,&nbsp;Jarrod Doucette ,&nbsp;Kirby Kalbaugh","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0723","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0723","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Large-scale data generation on dairy cattle farms is expected to continue increasing due to more animals per farm and the adoption of on-farm sensors and technologies that generate additional information on individual animals in greater frequency. Siloed data and information, lacking interoperability, prevent end users from combining data from multiple data sources and drawing more meaningful conclusions from the data generated on farm. As a result of these data challenges, the objective of this technical note is to describe a process of designing and documenting the development of a data ecosystem that automatically collects, performs quality control, and integrates data from disparate data sources used on experimental and commercial dairy farms. Integrated data can be queried to answer specific questions or generate timed reports that provide more insight than singular data sources can provide. Our objective was to develop a collaborative research data infrastructure that enables comprehensive data accessibility through an integrated computational ecosystem comprising open-source technologies of JupyterHub, Python, and Apache Spark. This shared curated environment facilitates extensive dataset consumption, empowering users to leverage distributed computing resources and parallel processing capabilities for sophisticated multi-dataset analysis and integration. Before user accessibility, the farm data undergo a rigorous multistage preprocessing protocol designed to mitigate potential data integrity challenges. These comprehensive data curation steps systematically address complex variability with sources, including vendor-specific software modifications, intermittent data retrieval disruptions, and farm-level operational contingencies. Employing sophisticated data cleaning, transformation, and validation methodologies, the infrastructure ensures robust data standardization and quality assurance. The integration of datasets from different data sources is paramount for improving dairy cattle welfare and production efficiency, which are complex management and breeding goals influenced by a multitude of traits that can be measured by different sensors. We identified research and further development needed in the field of dairy data science (e.g., data editing and quality control procedures, references and standards for novel sensor-based variables, and validation of obtained data across sensors), which is expected to continue playing a major role in the dairy industry sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 339-344"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of bulk tank milk free fatty acid concentration with farm type and time of year","authors":"Hannah M. Woodhouse ,&nbsp;Stephen J. LeBlanc ,&nbsp;Trevor J. DeVries ,&nbsp;Karen J. Hand ,&nbsp;David F. Kelton","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0667","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Triacylglycerol (TAG) hydrolysis yields free fatty acids (FFA) and ≥1.20 mmol FFA/100 g of milk fat in bulk tank milk is associated with off-flavor, rancidity, reduced foam stability, and inhibited cheese coagulation. The objective of this study was to compare milk FFA concentrations among conventional (CON), organic (ORG), and certified grass-fed (CGF) dairy farm types in Ontario (ON), Canada, and describe monthly and yearly FFA patterns. Bulk tank FFA data measured at every milk pick-up from August 2018 to December 2022 were collected from all dairy farms in ON and averaged by month. A mixed model of monthly average FFA with herd as a random effect was used to investigate associations with month, year, and farm type. There were 171,843 observations from 3,771 farms over 53 mo (2 mo were excluded due to FFA calibration concerns). Ninety-seven percent (n = 166,355) of observations were from CON farms (n = 3,659), and the other 3% (n = 5,488) were from ORG (n = 72) and CGF (n = 40) herds. Conventional farms had the lowest overall average FFA (0.83 mmol/100 g of fat) with 7% (n = 11,645) of monthly averages ≥1.20 mmol/100 g of milk fat. Grass-fed herds had the highest overall average FFA (1.10 mmol/100 g of fat), and 23% (n = 842) of months had elevated FFA averages. Seventy-five percent (n = 30) of CGF farms had at least 1 elevated monthly average FFA over the 53 mo. In the mixed model, monthly average FFA levels were lower in May (<em>β</em> = −0.02 to −0.21) and higher in July (<em>β</em> = 0.01 to 0.12) than in other months. Conventional herds had lower monthly average FFA than CGF herds (<em>β</em> = −0.27, 95% CI [−0.18, −0.35]) or ORG herds (<em>β</em> = −0.08, 95% CI [−0.01, −0.14]). This research suggests that bulk tank milk FFA concentration varies among farm types, months, and years. The mechanisms underlying these associations warrant further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 313-317"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of methane mitigation by organic feed additives in dual-flow continuous culture","authors":"B.A. Wenner ,&nbsp;G. Praisler ,&nbsp;K. Mitchell ,&nbsp;J. Velez ,&nbsp;P.S. Yoder","doi":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0673","DOIUrl":"10.3168/jdsc.2024-0673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustainability is interwoven with consumer expectations of organic production systems, yet there are few nutritional options for organic dairy systems to approach methane (CH₄) mitigation. The objective of the current study was to compare 3 feed additives for CH₄ mitigation. We hypothesized that each additive would decrease CH₄ production in continuous culture when compared with a control diet. Using dual-flow continuous culture fermenters fitted for CH₄ and hydrogen (H₂) sampling, 4 treatments were arranged in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were a negative control (CON, 60:40 concentrate:orchardgrass pellet mix, 17.1% CP, 33.0% NDF, 20.1% ADF, and 27.1% starch) fed twice daily a total 80 g/d DM (CON) and comparing one of the 3 additives: kelp powder (KP) at 1.7 g/d, essential oils (EO) at 3 mg/d, or pistachio-based biochar (BC) at 1.6 g/d. All dosages were calculated based on previous data and supplier recommendations scaled to dual-flow continuous culture functional volume. Experimental periods included 7 d of adaptation and 4 d of sampling (11 d total), and buffer and solids dilution rates were maintained at 7%/h and 5%/h, respectively. The main statistical model included fixed effect of treatment and random effects of fermenter and period. Gas production data were measured by feeding; thus, analysis included a repeated effect of feeding and hourly VFA samples a repeated effect of hour. Only EO decreased CH₄ production compared with CON (43.1 vs. 47.4 mmol/feeding, SD: 3.96). There was no effect of treatment on H₂ emission, nor H₂ or CH₄ in the aqueous phase. There was also no effect of treatment on nutrient digestibility despite large numerical differences in fiber digestibility, nor the production of primary VFA. However, KP decreased production of isobutyrate and isovalerate compared with CON. While the present data illustrate efficacy of an essential oil product to decrease CH₄ emission, decreases in CH₄ were not supported by statistically significant gains in VFA that could translate to increased milk production in the dairy cow.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94061,"journal":{"name":"JDS communications","volume":"6 3","pages":"Pages 318-323"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}