Breeding ‘a national solution' to curb methane emissions
New Zealand and Ireland are close allies when it comes to the agricultural sector, with both countries taking similar approaches to reducing methane emissions from agriculture.
Therefore, there is a lot that can be learned from New Zealand and their research.
Speaking at the recent Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM) Agriculture and Climate conference in Dublin Castle, Suzanne Rowe, principal scientist, AgResearch New Zealand described some of their methane mitigation strategies.
Rowe explained how technologies capture a 'direct measure of methane' by using a free-standing unit to contain an animal for a period of 45 minutes, which allows methane to accumulate.
She added: 'In that 45-minute period, we can see sufficient differences between animals in order to give them a lifetime ranking',.
'So we now know bit more about the low methane animal, our low emitters tend have more propionate and that tends to give us a little bit more lean growth.'
'We tend to see better carcass yield from these animals, a bit less fat and sheep [have] more wool. They tend to eat a bit more and they tend to eat more frequently.
But crucially in these systems, we're seeing from 4 to 20% less methane per kilo of feed'.
Breeding for lower methane emissions
Rowe then explained how breeding strategies can reduce methane emissions and how the infrastructure is already in place.
'Breeding is a national solution, but it's slow and that's the main drag factor for us, and something that's made us pause when we think about using genetics'.
However, there are positives to this solution,
According to AgResearch New Zealand scientist: 'We don't have to buy anything, we don't need to feed anything, we're just selecting what's there on the ground.'
But measurement is the key element to the success of these strategies.
'We need around 2,000 to 5,000 measures a year, and that's been our key target, is measurement', Rowe emphasised.
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New Zealand and Ireland are close allies when it comes to the agricultural sector, with both countries taking similar approaches to reducing methane emissions from agriculture. Therefore, there is a lot that can be learned from New Zealand and their research. Speaking at the recent Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM) Agriculture and Climate conference in Dublin Castle, Suzanne Rowe, principal scientist, AgResearch New Zealand described some of their methane mitigation strategies. Rowe explained how technologies capture a 'direct measure of methane' by using a free-standing unit to contain an animal for a period of 45 minutes, which allows methane to accumulate. She added: 'In that 45-minute period, we can see sufficient differences between animals in order to give them a lifetime ranking',. 'So we now know bit more about the low methane animal, our low emitters tend have more propionate and that tends to give us a little bit more lean growth.' 'We tend to see better carcass yield from these animals, a bit less fat and sheep [have] more wool. They tend to eat a bit more and they tend to eat more frequently. But crucially in these systems, we're seeing from 4 to 20% less methane per kilo of feed'. Breeding for lower methane emissions Rowe then explained how breeding strategies can reduce methane emissions and how the infrastructure is already in place. 'Breeding is a national solution, but it's slow and that's the main drag factor for us, and something that's made us pause when we think about using genetics'. However, there are positives to this solution, According to AgResearch New Zealand scientist: 'We don't have to buy anything, we don't need to feed anything, we're just selecting what's there on the ground.' But measurement is the key element to the success of these strategies. 'We need around 2,000 to 5,000 measures a year, and that's been our key target, is measurement', Rowe emphasised.
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