Search the EPA Research Database

Project title

Methane-Predict

Primary Funding Agency

DAFM

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Teagasc

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

In Ireland and New Zealand, there is an urgent need to reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions from pasture-based ruminant production. Breeding has been clearly demonstrated as a sustainable strategy for reduction of CH4 from ruminants by selecting for individual variation that is independent of other efficiency measures. In breeding, easily measured predictor traits are routinely used as proxies for difficult to measure traits, e.g. ultrasound in young animals to predict carcass traits. These predictors must be calibrated in multiple populations to have industry utility. To accelerate change in the livestock sector, low-cost high throughput accurate predictors are needed to identify low CH4 selection candidates for breeding and low methane management practices. Through collaboration between Irish and New Zealand partners, a rumen microbial profiling (RMC) technique was recently identified that can predict CH4 emissions in beef cattle with a high level of accuracy (~0.7). A similar study in sheep showed that RMC and CH4 emissions are correlated to fatty acid profiles in milk and meat. �Methane-Predict� aims to identify and validate low-cost rapid testing of RMC, milk and meat samples to rank individual ruminants for enteric methane emissions across 6 diverse sheep, beef and dairy cattle populations ranging in size from 200 to 500 animals per group. Outcomes from this proposal could be disruptive. Replacement of the current greenfeed method in cattle with an indirect predictor would substantially lower the economic and physical constraints. Costs of the indirect predictor are expected to be ~2.5% of current costs in cattle, more than trebling potential annual genetic gain in methane per unit of feed eaten for the same costs. This could enable implementation of policy at a national or even global scale. Readily transferred technology is key as over 75% of future enteric emissions are expected to come from developing countries.

Grant Approved

�1,995,675.02

Research Hub

n/a

Research Theme

Climate Solutions, Transition Management and Opportunities

Start Date

01/03/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

28/02/2027