Source : Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) - Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC)

This project consisted of two initiatives: one carried out by the Nova Scotia Agricultural College at the Kipawo Holsteins farm in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia; and the other by the Atlantic Dairy and Forage Institute (ADFI) in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick. The project was divided into two components. One involved comparing the methane emissions from dairy cows fed pasture– or silage-based diets. The second component involved testing two feed supplements—roasted soybean and confectionery waste—to determine their potential to reduce methane emissions and improve cow performance.

First component

The methane emission levels were found to be comparable for cows fed pasture and those fed silage. However, from the standpoint of total farm greenhouse emissions (emissions from fuel use, electricity, fertilizer, etc.), the researchers determined that pasture feeding generated lower total emissions than silage diets

Second component

Although earlier research showed that adding fat to cow rations could reduce methane emissions, the findings of the present study concerning the effects of roasted soybean supplements are inconclusive, because the cows did not eat the full amount supplied. Thedietary addition of sugar (confectionery waste) did not have a marked effect on methane emissions; however, the researchers found that the cows given sugar supplements produced more milk. This shows that a little bit of sugar can be beneficial