Effects of low-methane functional feed on parity-specific milk productivity and quality traits in dairy cows

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-methane (LM) feed supplementation on milk productivity and quality indicators across different parities in dairy cows. Milk testing records from 2021 to 2023 were analyzed, with 2023 designated as the LM feed group. The analysis showed that milk productivity (305-day milk yield, mature equivalent milk yield) generally increased with parity up to the 5th parity, followed by a decline from the 6th parity, consistent with known physiological trends. Importantly, this pattern remained stable even in the LM feed group, indicating that LM feed supplementation did not disrupt the natural parity-based performance trends. No significant decline in milk yield, milk protein, or solids-not-fat was observed in the LM group compared to the conventional feed group. On the contrary, some indicators, such as Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN), showed improvements, suggesting enhanced nitrogen utilization efficiency. These findings support the feasibility of LM feed as a practical mitigation strategy that does not compromise dairy cow performance, and highlight its potential for sustainable dairy farming under varying physiological stages.