When a cow belches, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. One cow, no problem. But entire beef and dairy sectors add up.
A Nebraska research team is studying ways to reduce methane emissions from livestock with the goal of developing tools and management practices for beef and dairy producers.
“Everybody has to do their part in reducing the carbon footprint and anything that affects climate change. This is one way agriculture can contribute,” said Paul Kononoff, professor of animal science.
Kononoff leads a multidisciplinary team that’s tackling the problem from multiple angles.
One method targets the cow’s microbiome. Methane is produced by microbes in the cow’s rumen, its largest stomach compartment. As microbes feast on the cow’s feed, it provides the cow with nutrients. Methane is the byproduct of this relationship. A steer belches about 100 liters of methane daily while a dairy cow belches about 500 liters daily.
Analyzing the complement of microbes in cows with lower emissions will provide important paths to reducing methane.
Kononoff said the team hopes to identify a microbiome that can be introduced to young animals to support their health as they grow while also producing less methane.
The team is also comparing the DNA of cattle with varying methane emissions to find genes contributing to lower methane. Pinpointing the genes responsible would help breeders propagate cattle that emit less methane.
The project is underway. Cattle are spending time eating and belching into an apparatus that measures methane while the team collects DNA and microbiome samples for comparison.
Nebraska Extension is also informing beef and dairy producers about the research, laying the groundwork for introducing new tools and management practices that result.
Kononoff said that by targeting climate change, the research may also improve cattle nutrition and increase production.
“Beef and dairy cattle are major economic drivers in Nebraska, so helping producers understand how they can improve production and sustainability is important not only for the state’s producers, but ultimately their contribution to the economy of Nebraska,” he said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture funds this project.
Additional content
- News release: Husker team receives $5M grant to reduce methane emissions from cattle
- KOLN-KGIN report
Paul Kononoff