Australia invests US$16.8 million for greener livestock production

Australia's Agriculture Minister Tony Burke is putting up A$26 million (US$16.8 million) to fund research projects to find solutions to reduce environmental pollution by the country's livestock sector.

Australia's 120 million cattle, sheep and goats are the nation's third largest emitters of greenhouse gases, and Burke wish to curb the animals' methane emissions produced during food digestion.

The research will go several ways, some will go to different feed options, and some to different breeding methods that will produce animals that will emit less through the mouth, Burke said.

There is also some work being done to determine whether bacteria that could be placed into animal guts would be able to help reduce the methane coming through the mouth, he said.

Burke said Australia's research into the gas emission is a world first, and the study would help the country to maintain good access at export markets.

However, reducing animal gas may be costly and Burke did not deny that the costs could be passed on to consumers.

Green alternatives cost more but inaction will cost much more in the long run, according to Burke.

Burke said it is hoped that the research will make a significant reduction in animal emissions without taking a toll on consumers but that the ball is now in the scientists' hands.