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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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The Use of an Automated System (GreenFeed) to Monitor Enteric Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Ruminant Animals
Published on: September 7, 2015
Breed-specific enteric methane emission factor assessment in Italian dairy cattle leveraging DHI and primary ration
Giulia Ferronato1, Mesfin Mekonnen Moliso2, Raphael Mrode3
1Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural, Engineering and Mathematics (DICATAM), Università degli Studi di Brescia, 25121, Brescia, Italy.
Journal of Animal Science
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Estimating enteric methane (CH4) from dairy cattle using farm-specific diets improves accuracy, especially for non-productive animals. This research refines greenhouse gas footprint calculations for the livestock sector.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Animal Science
Background:
- Enteric methane (CH4) emissions from dairy cattle significantly contribute to the livestock sector's greenhouse gas footprint.
- Accurate estimation of CH4 is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 equations for estimating enteric CH4 emissions in Italian dairy herds.
- To evaluate the impact of using farm-specific diet information versus default assumptions on CH4 estimates.
- To compare CH4 emissions across Italian Holstein, Brown Swiss, and Red Pied breeds.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) test-day records combined with primary ration data from 138 Italian dairy farms (2021-2022).
- Employed IPCC Tier 2 methodology for CH4 emission calculations.
- Analyzed breed, estimation approach, and their interaction using aligned rank transform (ART) procedures.
Main Results:
- Holstein cows had higher daily methane production (443.60 ± 5.68 g/d), while Red Pied herds exhibited greater methane intensity (29.99 ± 0.70 g/kg FPCM).
- Farm-specific ration data significantly impacted CH4 estimates, particularly for dry cows and heifers.
- Breed and estimation approach affected CH4 estimates, but their interaction was not significant, showing consistent breed rankings.
Conclusions:
- Incorporating farm-specific dietary data enhances the accuracy and representativeness of CH4 inventories from dairy cattle.
- The study underscores the importance of detailed, context-specific input data for precise greenhouse gas accounting in livestock.
- While breed differences exist in methane production and intensity, using precise dietary data is key for accurate overall emission assessments.
