The effect of ensiled paulownia leaves in a high-forage diet on ruminal fermentation, methane production, fatty acid composition, and milk production performance of dairy cows

Abstract

Highlights • Paulownia leaves silage (PLS) fed to dairy cows decreased CH4 emission. • Dietary PLS inhibited the methanogen community and increased selected bacteria populations. • Diet containing PLS elevated propionate proportion and decreased acetate to propionate ratio in the rumen fluid. • Transcript abundance of genes regulating fatty acid metabolism in the milk somatic cells were increased by PLS. • Dietary PLS elevated proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid, and reduced n-6/n-3 ratio in the milk.

Keywords

• Dairy cow
• Fatty acid composition in milk
• Methane emission
• Paulownia leaves