Join our webinar about GFLI listing of Selko IntelliBond

Methane from cows, commonly known as cow methane, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Livestock, including cattle, are responsible for about 35% of anthropogenic methane emissions in the US. Methane, despite being emitted in smaller quantities compared to carbon dioxide, has a more potent warming effect. Therefore, it is crucial to address cow methane emissions to combat climate change effectively. This article explores the sources of methane emissions from cows, the impact of methane on the climate, and strategies for reducing cow methane emissions.

Concerns about mineral deficiencies in dairy cows have resulted in over feeding trace minerals in a number of dairy herds across the world. Studies have shown that trace mineral levels in dairy diets are often much higher than recommendations in the NASEM 2021 guidelines for mineral nutrition of dairy cows. This results in copper overload, with elevated levels of copper in the liver of dairy cows and a negative impact on health and fertility. Over-feeding of trace minerals to dairy cow has also resulted in excessive excretion of trace minerals via urine and faeces, resulting in contamination of soil.

Learn from Dr. Ermias Kebreab, Associate Dean and Professor of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis, a renowned expert in animal nutrition and environmental impact, about effective strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy cattle, such as the use of methane reducing feed additives.

Discover methods to minimize methane production in cows and achieve net zero livestock production by 2050. Explore the valuable insights shared during the webinar "Effective strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy cattle" and learn how different stakeholders in the industry can contribute to reducing methane emissions from cattle and dairy carbon footprint.

Dr. Mike Hutjens explains that feed efficency of dairy cows is an important performance indicator to improve sustainability and profitability of dairy farming. Feed efficiency in dairy cows can vary between <1.3 and >2.0. Digestibility of feed is one of the factors with a big impact on feed efficiency of dairy cattle.

Professor Santos from the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida discusses how to calculate feed efficiency of dairy cows and how it impacts dairy performance. Residual Feed Intake of dairy cows is a very accurate parameter to calculate feed efficiency of dairy cattle. It can be improved by genetic selection, nutritional tools and dairy management.

A trial showed that feeding Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals instead of sulphates improved rumen health, and increased NDF digestibility, production of volatile fatty acids and production of milk in dairy cows, resulting in an increase of feed efficiency.