Tuesday, 10 December 2024 09:55

Climate-friendly cows closer

Written by  Staff Reporters
Calves being fed lucerne cube as part of the trial. Calves being fed lucerne cube as part of the trial.

Dairy farmers are one step closer to breeding cow with lower methane emissions, offering an innovative way to reduce the nation's agricultural carbon footprint without compromising farm productivity.

A study, jointly led by artificial breeding companies LIC and CRV, began in 2020 with a small-scale pilot trial involving methane testing of 20 bulls.

Since then the programme, funded by the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC), has continued to evolve, and by the end of 2024 more than 1000 young bulls and 393 yearling heifers will have had their methane emissions and feed intake measured, with the goal of introducing a methane breeding value to all LIC and CRV artificial breeding bulls from late 2026.

The study findings were presented last week by LIC's senior scientist Dr Lorna McNaughton at the New Zealand Agriculture Climate Change Conference in Wellington.

The findings show that genetic variation can influence how much methane is produced by heifers and that bulls identified as low methane emitters pass this trait on to their daughters.

In the first phase of the research, it was found that bulls varied by up to 20% in the amount of methane emitted per kilogram of feed consumed. During this phase, the highest and lowest emitting sires were selected to produce a herd of daughters at Pāmu Farms of New Zealand's Wairakei Estate in the Central Plateau, with the emissions from these daughters having recently been measured.

"Throughout the programme we've been able to rigorously monitor and measure bulls and heifers to confirm that bulls with low methane emissions could produce daughters emitting less methane per kilogram of feed consumed," says LIC chief scientist Dr Richard Spelman.

"This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the genetic variation between high-emitting and low-emitting bulls and we're now looking forward to the next critical step where we'll measure emissions from their daughters during their first milking season in 2025."

To support this next step, a state-of-the-art research barn is being constructed to allow for the large-scale monitoring of these lactating cows.

"While the last three years of results are promising, and closely aligned to our predictions, this next stage of testing will allow us to confirm the research finding across generations," says Peter van Elzakker, grass fed genetics manager at CRV.

With nearly half of New Zealand's carbon emissions attributed to methane, this research illustrates how the agri-sector illustrates how the agri-sector is working together to support the nation's climate aspirations.

"I'm extremely proud to be part of the solution when it comes to emissions-intensity reduction targets and I am excited by the future prospect of offering farmers low methane-emitting genetic solutions," says LIC chief executive, David Chin.

"This research is just one example of how we must work together and continue to innovate as we look for new ways to address climate challenges and I'm excited to see the work progress into 2025," says CRV managing director, James Smallwood.

More like this

FE survey underway

Beef + Lamb NZ wants farmers to complete a survey that will shed light on the financial toll of facial eczema (FE) at the farm level.

Balanced diets key to keeping cows in milk

Waikato dairy farmers are well-placed heading into the peak of summer, thanks to favourable growing conditions late last year that resulted in abundant onfarm feed reserves.

Insights from within the cow

smaXtec's bolus technology supports early detection of potential diseases, enabling preventive measures to improve herd health and reproductive outcomes.

Featured

Editorial: Will big be better?

OPINION: The shakeup to the science sector with the proposed merger of four ag related crown research institutes (CRIs) into one conglomerate has drawn little public reaction.

Co-op boosts chilled exports to China

Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports to China, following approval for two of its processing plants to supply the market.

Expo set to deliver in spades

The countdown is on to be one of the most anticipated events in the sheep and beef industry, the East Coast Farming Expo.

New Summerfruit NZ CEO

Dean Smith has been in the role of CEO of Summerfruit NZ for about four months, having succeeded Kate Hellstrom at the end of September.

FE survey underway

Beef + Lamb NZ wants farmers to complete a survey that will shed light on the financial toll of facial eczema (FE) at the farm level.

National

Synlait sweetens milk supply deal

Canterbury milk processor Synlait is confident of retaining its farmer supplier base following a turnaround in its financial performance.

Optimism in the air

Ag First chief executive James Allen says dairy farmer optimism is on the rise.

Machinery & Products

New distributor for Aussie equipment

Australian agricultural equipment distributor, Waringa Distribution, has increased its support to South Island farmers and contractors with the appointment of…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Bovaer's fate

OPINION: The fate of methane inhibitor Bovaer in NZ farming is still up in the air.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter