Greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young Holstein bulls
Livestock farming is directly responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly due to enteric fermentation. Feed efficiency in livestock species is generally evaluated through feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI), which are associated to GHG emissions. The aim of this stu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2022.2071178 |
| _version_ | 1827860365394837504 |
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| author | Simone Callegaro Giovanni Niero Mauro Penasa Raffaella Finocchiaro Guido Invernizzi Martino Cassandro |
| author_facet | Simone Callegaro Giovanni Niero Mauro Penasa Raffaella Finocchiaro Guido Invernizzi Martino Cassandro |
| author_sort | Simone Callegaro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Livestock farming is directly responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly due to enteric fermentation. Feed efficiency in livestock species is generally evaluated through feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI), which are associated to GHG emissions. The aim of this study was to characterise FCR and RFI in relation to body traits, feed intake, feeding behaviour and GHG emissions of Holstein bulls. Data were collected between May 2018 and July 2020 on 111 animals. Pearson correlations between studied traits were estimated on the residuals obtained from a linear mixed model which included the fixed effect of the linear covariate of age of bull on the dependent variable and the random effect of the bull. To assess the effect of RFI and FCR the same linear mixed model was implemented firstly by including the fixed effect of RFI (2 classes) and secondly the fixed effect of FCR (2 classes). Correlations between dry matter intake (DMI) and GHG ranged from 0.25 (CH4) to 0.36 (CO2). The strongest relationship was estimated between feed efficiency traits and DMI (0.86). RFI and FCR showed weak to moderate correlations with GHG (0.12–0.31). Animals belonging to the low classes of RFI and FCR had lower DMI and showed significant reduction of GHG emissions. Results of the present study highlighted significant differences in terms of feed efficiency and GHG emissions among tested animals; further research is needed on their progeny to investigate the genetic background of the same efficiency and emission-related traits. Highlights Feed efficiency and emission of greenhouse gases vary among Holstein bulls. Dry matter intake and feed efficiency traits were strongly positively associated. Animals endowed with greater feed efficiency had lower emissions and feed intake. Results of the present study will be useful to select animals for feed efficiency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:22:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e2bc965c4d04ab0a67b17e7c87a51f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1594-4077 1828-051X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:22:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e2bc965c4d04ab0a67b17e7c87a51f22023-08-25T13:51:03ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2022-12-0121187087710.1080/1828051X.2022.20711782071178Greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young Holstein bullsSimone Callegaro0Giovanni Niero1Mauro Penasa2Raffaella Finocchiaro3Guido Invernizzi4Martino Cassandro5Dipartimento di Agronomia, Animali, Alimenti, Risorse naturali e Ambiente, Università di PadovaDipartimento di Agronomia, Animali, Alimenti, Risorse naturali e Ambiente, Università di PadovaDipartimento di Agronomia, Animali, Alimenti, Risorse naturali e Ambiente, Università di PadovaAssociazione Nazionale Allevatori della Razza Frisona, Bruna e Jersey ItalianaDipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie per la Salute, la Produzione Animale e la Sicurezza Alimentare “Carlo Cantoni”, Università di MilanoDipartimento di Agronomia, Animali, Alimenti, Risorse naturali e Ambiente, Università di PadovaLivestock farming is directly responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly due to enteric fermentation. Feed efficiency in livestock species is generally evaluated through feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI), which are associated to GHG emissions. The aim of this study was to characterise FCR and RFI in relation to body traits, feed intake, feeding behaviour and GHG emissions of Holstein bulls. Data were collected between May 2018 and July 2020 on 111 animals. Pearson correlations between studied traits were estimated on the residuals obtained from a linear mixed model which included the fixed effect of the linear covariate of age of bull on the dependent variable and the random effect of the bull. To assess the effect of RFI and FCR the same linear mixed model was implemented firstly by including the fixed effect of RFI (2 classes) and secondly the fixed effect of FCR (2 classes). Correlations between dry matter intake (DMI) and GHG ranged from 0.25 (CH4) to 0.36 (CO2). The strongest relationship was estimated between feed efficiency traits and DMI (0.86). RFI and FCR showed weak to moderate correlations with GHG (0.12–0.31). Animals belonging to the low classes of RFI and FCR had lower DMI and showed significant reduction of GHG emissions. Results of the present study highlighted significant differences in terms of feed efficiency and GHG emissions among tested animals; further research is needed on their progeny to investigate the genetic background of the same efficiency and emission-related traits. Highlights Feed efficiency and emission of greenhouse gases vary among Holstein bulls. Dry matter intake and feed efficiency traits were strongly positively associated. Animals endowed with greater feed efficiency had lower emissions and feed intake. Results of the present study will be useful to select animals for feed efficiency.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2022.2071178greenhouse gasyoung bullfeed efficiencygeneticenvironment |
| spellingShingle | Simone Callegaro Giovanni Niero Mauro Penasa Raffaella Finocchiaro Guido Invernizzi Martino Cassandro Greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young Holstein bulls Italian Journal of Animal Science greenhouse gas young bull feed efficiency genetic environment |
| title | Greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young Holstein bulls |
| title_full | Greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young Holstein bulls |
| title_fullStr | Greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young Holstein bulls |
| title_full_unstemmed | Greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young Holstein bulls |
| title_short | Greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young Holstein bulls |
| title_sort | greenhouse gas emissions dry matter intake and feed efficiency of young holstein bulls |
| topic | greenhouse gas young bull feed efficiency genetic environment |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2022.2071178 |
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