Effect of supplementation of fresh and ensiled clovers to ryegrass on nitrogen loss and methane emission of dairy cows

Abstract

Abstract Two experiments were carried out to compare white clover with red clover as supplementation to ryegrass, in ensiled and fresh form, for differences in nitrogen loss and methane emission by dairy cows. In experiment 1, fresh ryegrass was mixed with fresh white (WF) or red clover (RF) (60/40 on dry matter basis). Experiment 2 involved similar mixed diets in ensiled form (WS and RS, respectively), and two ryegrass silage diets, without (GS) or with supplementary maize gluten meal (600 g protein/kg DM; GS+). Barley was supplemented to meet the calculated requirements for milk production. The type of clover did not affect crude protein (CP) intake in experiment 1. In experiment 2, the highest CP intakes were observed for cows on the GS+ diet ( P P P P P > 0.05) either by clover supplementation or by clover type in both experiments. This study illustrates that the white and red clovers investigated were widely similar for their effects on N losses and methane emission in dairy cows. Our findings imply that supplementation of white or red clover to a high-protein ryegrass could enhance nitrogen losses to the environment, and would not be beneficial in terms of reducing methane emissions.