Abstract
Simple SummaryThe dairy system is facing many environmental issues, such as greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and consumption of human-edible raw materials, as well as increased demand for milk by the growing world population. Dairy cow farming must evolve toward more efficient and sustainable methods of production. Strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of the animal feed used and enhance overall productivity should be considered. Feed production, especially soybean meal, represents the second source of total dairy greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between production efficiency and environmental footprint. Using slow-releasing urea sources as an alternative to soybean meal can enhance rumen efficiency, functionality and reduce emissions related to the feed used due to a lower carbon footprint.The effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SBM) with a slow-release urea source (SRU) on production performance, feed efficiency, digestibility, and environmental sustainability of dairy cows were evaluated. A total of 140 lactating Holstein Frisian cows were allocated into two study groups: (i) control (diet entirely based on SBM), and (ii) treatment (diet of 0.22% on dry matter basis (d.m.)) of SRU. Milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion rate (FCR), body condition score (BCS), reproductive parameters, and milk quality were evaluated. The chemical composition of the feeds and feces were analyzed to calculate the in vivo digestibility of the two diets. The carbon footprint (CFP) and predicted methane (CH4) emissions were evaluated. The inclusion of SRU significantly increases milk yield, DMI, and FCR (p < 0.0001), whereas milk quality, BCS, and reproductive indicators were not affected (p > 0.05). In the treatment group, the digestibility of crude protein (CP) (p = 0.012), NDF (p = 0.039), and cellulose (p = 0.033) was significantly higher, while the other nutritional parameters weren’t affected. All the environmental parameters were significantly improved in the treatment group (p < 0.0001). Replacing SBM with SRU can be a strategy to enhance dairy cows’ sustainability due to improved production efficiency, reduced feed CFP, and predicted CH4 production.
Highlights
The global population is expected to rise by 2 billion in the three decades, increasing, in parallel, the demand for animal-derived products, with higher pressure on the food market to meet consumer requests [1,2]
There is a positive relationship between production efficiency and environmental footprint, suggesting that strategies improving the productivity of dairy cows can lead to a simultaneous improvement in environmental impacts and profitability [4]
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the partial substitution of soybean meal (SBM) with a coated slow-release urea (SRU) source—Protigen—on the production performance, digestibility, and environmental impact, of high pedigree Holstein Frisian dairy cows
Summary
The global population is expected to rise by 2 billion in the three decades, increasing, in parallel, the demand for animal-derived products, with higher pressure on the food market to meet consumer requests [1,2]. In the past 60 years, this growth in the need for animal-derived foods has been met primarily by a steady increase in the number of animals reared and the nutritional value of the feeds, using higher levels of human-edible cereals and protein sources [3]. Zootechnical systems, especially dairy and beef cattle farming, confront many sustainability challenges, such as human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in which both animal rearing and feed production are involved [3,4]. In response to these concerns, more efficient and sustainable dairy production systems need to be developed. A lower CFP of the diets is related to a lower emission intensity, with reduced emissions per unit of milk [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
