Latest news with #AgricultureandClimateconference
Agriland
15 hours ago
- Science
- Agriland
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.
Agriland
4 days ago
- Health
- Agriland
Watch: Potential for vaccines to reduce methane emissions?
With the threat of global warming increasing, research around greenhouse gases (GHG) and in particular methane, is becoming increasingly important. According to Sharon Huws, professor in animal science and microbiology at Queens University Belfast there are 'huge gaps' in ruminant bacteria available for methane emission research. Speaking at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM) Agriculture and Climate conference this week at Dublin Castle, Huws highlighted the challenges associated with the 'complexity' of the ruminant microbiome. Huws said: 'The rumen is one of the most complex microbiomes that you will find in nature. 'And with this complexity brings quite a lot of challenges, but ultimately what we're trying to do with our methane mitigation strategies is manipulate the processes in the rumen. 'If we do not have these microbes available, it means that we cannot understand them.' Prof. Sharon Huws, Queens University Belfast Reducing methane emissions Huws told Agriland how the Rumen Gateway Project, taking place at Queen's University Belfast, aims to 'fill in' the understanding around how methane is produced. She detailed that the purpose of the project is to gather methane-producing bacteria from ruminant animals across the world and combat them with methane mitigation strategies. Huws also added that 'practical' solutions can be implemented on farms such as introducing multi-species swards and willows to reduce methane emissions. Feed additives such as Bovaer are now gaining interest among farmers, with Huws emphasising that 'we [researchers] would never put anything on farms unless we know it does not affect animal health and welfare and that the products produced won't affect human health'. 'Those are the number one things, ensuring that farmers and the general public have confidence in what we're [researchers] doing'. Huws also highlighted that the acceleration of research on methane vaccines will require a team effort by immunologists and microbiologists. 'I think probably, three or four years down the line we'll hear a lot more about methane vaccines,' Huws added.
