The effect of dietary starch and lipid source on the performance, methane production and milk fatty acid profile of Holstein cows

Methane production by cattle represents a loss of dietary energy and is a source of concern due its impact on climate change (Moss et al. 2000). A Review study (Grainger and Beauchemin 2011) indicated that dietary starch and lipid supplementation are effective strategies to reduce ruminant methanogenesis. However, the effects of the interaction between starch and lipid source on ruminal methane production are unclear. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of starch and lipid source on the performance, methane production, and milk fatty acid profile of dairy cows.