Genetic parameters for methane production, intensity, and yield predicted from milk mid-infrared spectra throughout lactation in Holstein dairy cows

Genetic selection to reduce CH₄ emissions is a promising solution for reducing the environmental impact of dairy cattle production. Before such a selection program can be implemented, however, it is necessary to have a better understanding of the genetic determinism of CH₄ emissions and how this might influence other traits of interest. In this study, we performed a genetic analysis of 6 CH₄ traits predicted from milk mid-infrared spectra. We predicted 4 CH₄ traits in g/d (methane production [MeP], calculated using different prediction equations), 1 trait in g/kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk (methane intensity [MeI]), and 1 trait in g/kg of DMI. Using an external dataset, we determined these prediction equations to be applicable in the range of 70 to 200 DIM. We then estimated genetic parameters in this DIM range using random regression models on a large dataset of 829,025 spectra collected between January 2013 and February 2023 from 167,514 first- and second-parity Holstein cows. The 6 CH₄ traits were found to be genetically stable throughout and across lactations, with average genetic correlations within a lactation ranging from 0.93 to 0.98, and those between lactations ranging from 0.92 to 0.98. All 6 CH₄ traits were also found to be heritable, with average heritability ranging from 0.24 to 0.45. The average pairwise genetic correlations between the 6 CH₄ traits ranged from -0.15 to 0.77, revealing that they are genetically distinct, including the 4 measurements of MeP. Of the 6 traits, 2 measures of MeP and MeI did not present antagonistic genetic correlations with milk yield, fat and protein contents, and SCS, and can probably be included in breeding goals with limited impact on other traits of interest.