Phenomics

Evaluation of a novel technique for measuring enteric methane and carbon dioxide emissions from dairy cows on-farm

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Abstract

Developing breeding strategies for low-methane cattle requires accurate phenotypes from many animals. This study aimed to evaluate a novel technology (QuickFlux, C-Lock Inc.) to measure enteric gas fluxes. QuickFlux is a direct measurement system consisting of a face mask, flexible airflow pipe, air filter, and air fan that creates a vacuum flow to pull animal breath through the system. Data were collected from lactating Holstein cows in three studies: (1) QuickFlux measurements in the chute from 23 cows, three times, once a month (3 records per cow); (2) QuickFlux measurements in headlocks from 32 cows, four times biweekly over 36 hours (12 records per cow); and (3) QuickFlux measurements in the milking parlor from 76 cows, nine times weekly (9 records per cow). In all studies, cows were fed a common diet and housed in a free-stall with access to GreenFeed. Each cow was sampled for 5 minutes. Daily milk yield (MY), lactation number, and days in milk were collected; dry matter intake (DMI) was also measured in study 3. For studies 1 and 3, animals did not have access to feed during QuickFlux sampling, whereas in study 2, animals had feed available in headlocks. Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (g/day) from QuickFlux and GreenFeed were averaged per cow. QuickFlux and GreenFeed daily CH4 averages (g/day) were 430±68 and 492±49 for study 1, 578±77 and 440±64 for study 2, and 290±64 and 359±52 for study 3. The between-cow coefficients of variation for QuickFlux CH4 and CO2 ranged from 7 to 22%. Spearman's rank correlations between CH4 measured by QuickFlux and GreenFeed were 0.46, 0.53, and 0.70 for studies 1, 2, and 3. For CO2, these correlations were 0.71, 0.39, and 0.63 for studies 1, 2, and 3. Correlations between CH4 and MY were similar for QuickFlux and GreenFeed. In study 3, correlations between CH4 measured by QuickFlux and DMI, and CH4 measured by GreenFeed and DMI, were 0.69 and 0.62. Correlations between CO2 measured by QuickFlux and DMI, and CO2 measured by GreenFeed and DMI, were 0.76 and 0.71. Associations between CH4 and CO2 emissions measured with both technologies across all studies showed that cows identified as high and low emitters using QuickFlux were similarly ranked with GreenFeed. Additionally, adjusted R2 values for DMI linear prediction models including lactation number, days in milk, MY, and CO2 were similar (0.65 and 0.67) using data from QuickFlux or GreenFeed. Our results suggest that QuickFlux is a feasible technology for measuring gas fluxes in dairy cows under different commercial settings. However, measurements collected while cows are eating may result in higher absolute CH4 and CO2 values. Regardless of study differences, QuickFlux technology showed strong potential for predicting DMI and feed efficiency

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Cavani, L., Kebreab, E., Lago, A., Martinez-Boggio, G., Peà±agaricano, F. & Zimmerman, S., (2026) “Evaluation of a novel technique for measuring enteric methane and carbon dioxide emissions from dairy cows on-farm”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2286875. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.24151

Rights: 1