Method to evaluate the quantity of methane produced by a dairy ruminant and method to reduce and control this quantity

Abstract

The present invention relates in particular to a method to evaluate the quantity of methane produced by a dairy ruminant. The method comprises determination of the ratio between the quantity of fatty acids with 16 carbon atoms or less and the sum of the total fatty acids of the milk, said quantity of methane being defined by the following equation: Quantity CH 4 =(FA<C16/Total FAs)* a *(milk production) b in which: quantity CH 4 (in g/litre of milk)=quantity of methane produced; FA<C16=quantity of fatty acids with 16 carbon atoms or less; Total FAs =total quantity of fatty acids; expression of the ratio (FA<C16)/(Total FAs) as a % of total FAs; milk production=quantity of milk produced in kg of milk/animal and per year; a and b are numerical parameters in which a lies between 10 and 13, and b lies between −0.40 and −0.45.

1 . A method to evaluate the quantity of methane produced by a dairy ruminant, comprising:
 determining the ratio between the quantity of fatty acids with 16 carbon atoms or less, called FA<C16 and the sum of the total fatty acids in the milk, said fatty acids being those found in the milk produced by said ruminant, said quantity of methane being defined by the following equation:
   Quantity CH 4 =( FA <C16/Total  FAs )* a *(milk production) b    
   
       in which:
 quantity CH 4  (in g/litre of milk)=quantity of methane produced; 
 FA<C16=quantity of fatty acids with 16 carbon atoms or less; 
 Total FAs=total quantity of fatty acids; 
 expression of the ratio (FA<C16)/(Total FAs) as a % of total FAs; 
 milk production=quantity of milk produced in kg of milk/animal and per year; 
 a and b are numerical parameters, with a lying between 10 and 13, and b lying between −0.40 and −0.45. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a and b are respectively 11.368 and −0.4274. 
     
     
         3 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method to evaluate the quantity of methane produced by a dairy ruminant, comprising:
 (a) assaying fatty acids of milk produced by a dairy ruminant;   (b) determining the ratio between the quantity of fatty acids with 16 carbon atoms or less, called FA<C16, and the sum of the total fatty acids in the milk, said fatty acids being those found in the milk produced by said ruminant;   (c) calculating said quantity of methane which is defined by the following equation:
   Quantity CH 4 =( FA <C16/Total  FAs )* a *(milk production) b    
   
       in which:
 quantity CH 4  (in g/litre of milk)=quantity of methane produced; 
 FA<C16=quantity of fatty acids with 16 carbon atoms or less; 
 Total FAs=total quantity of fatty acids; 
 expression of the ratio (FA<C16)/(Total FAs) as a % of total FAs; 
 milk production=quantity of milk produced in kg of milk/animal and per year; 
 a and b are numerical parameters, with a lying between 10 and 13, and b lying between −0.40 and −0.45. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a and b are respectively 11.368 and −0.4274. 
     
     
         9 . A method to evaluate the quantity of methane produced by a dairy ruminant for use in reducing or controlling the quantity of methane produced by the ruminant, comprising:
 (a) assaying fatty acids of milk produced by a dairy ruminant by:
 (i) determining the total content of fatty acids in the milk; and 
 (ii) determining the content of fatty acids with 16 carbons or less in the milk; 
   (b) determining the ratio between the content of fatty acids with 16 carbon atoms or less and the total content of fatty acids in the milk;   (c) determining the milk production of said ruminant, wherein said milk production is the quantity of milk produced in kg of milk per animal per year; and   (d) calculating said quantity of methane which is defined by the following equation:
   Quantity CH 4 =( FA <C16/Total  FAs )* a *(milk production) b    
   
       in which:
 quantity CH 4  (in g/litre of milk)=quantity of methane produced; 
 FA<C16=content of fatty acids with 16 carbon atoms or less; 
 Total FAs=total content of fatty acids; 
 expression of the ratio (FA<C16)/(Total FAs) as a % of total FAs; 
 milk production=quantity of milk produced in kg of milk/animal and per year; 
 a and b are numerical parameters, with a lying between 10 and 13, and b lying between −0.40 and −0.45. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a and b are respectively 11.368 and −0.4274.