Maine organic dairy producers’ receptiveness to seaweed supplementation and effect of Chondrus crispus on enteric methane emissions in lactating cows

Abstract

Producer receptiveness to CH₄-reducing algal-based feeds will not only be dependent on purchase price, but also on co-benefits and simplicity of integration into existing feed practices. Feeding <i>C. crispus</i> at 6% of the diet DM decreased CH₄ production in dairy cows by 13.9% without negative effects on milk yield and composition. Identifying the bioactive compounds in <i>C. crispus</i> is critical to understand the effect of this red seaweed on mitigating enteric CH₄ emissions in dairy cows.