New doctoral thesis about methane from dairy cows
On February 6, Melania Angellotti successfully defended her doctoral thesis, “Inclusion of Asparagopsis spp. in Dairy Cow Diets to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions – Animal and Microbial Responses” .
This thesis investigated whether the red seaweed Asparagopsis can reduce methane emissions when included in dairy cow diets. At the same time, effects on milk production, milk composition, rumen fermentation, and the microbiota in both rumen and feces were studied. The influence of cultivation conditions on the seaweed’s content of bioactive compounds was also examined.
Results from three studies showed that methane production decreased consistently, although the magnitude of the effect varied depending on the seaweed’s chemical composition, dosage, and how the rumen microorganisms adapted over time. The supplementation also affected fermentation patterns and microbial communities. Furthermore, the findings highlighted that variation in seaweed quality and bioactive compound concentrations requires standardized production systems. For practical implementation, careful control of production, feeding strategies, and long-term safety in handling and use is essential.
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