Australia scientists study cow genome to tackle methane emissions

Cows release a lot of greenhouse gas when they digest, but a new study from Australia has mapped the DNA from one of the culprits -- a bacteria species.

An international team, headed by Dr Graeme Attwood, has mapped the rumen methanogen DNA sequence, which scientists claim will pave the way to identify methods for cutting methane emissions from cows.

Rumen methanogens are the bacteria responsible for the methane produced by livestock. The bacteria lives in the gut of ruminant livestock, removing the hydrogen and carbon dioxide released as grass and other plant materials are broken down.

The byproduct of this process, however, is large amounts of methane: one of the most potent greenhouse gases known.

According to the scientists, the aim behind sequencing a rumen methanogen -- Methanobrevibacter ruminant, which is a bacterium with 2200 genes and almost three million base pairs -- is to figure out how to selectively knock them out in ways which will not damage other beneficial bacteria. Possible approaches are vaccines, drenches or even changing forage, said the scientists.