January 10, 2024

US research team receives US$5 million USDA grant for sustainable livestock production research

A research team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has secured a US$5 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to delve into more sustainable dairy and beef production practices, Drovers reported.

Comprising faculty members from the Department of Animal Science, the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, and researchers from the US Meat Animal Research Centre in Clay Centre, Nebraska, the team will explore the intricate relationships between animal genetics, the gut microbiome, and nutrition. Their primary objective is to develop tools and management practices that can effectively reduce methane emissions from livestock.

This significant funding, facilitated through the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, is part of the US government's broader US$10 million investment in projects aimed at mitigating intestinal methane emissions from ruminant animals. This initiative aligns with President Joe Biden's Global Methane Pledge, announced in September 2021.

The project, spearheaded by Paul Kononoff, includes a team of esteemed faculty members: Samodha Fernando, Matt Spangler, Galen Erickson, Jessica Sperber, Richard Stowell, and Tammy Brown-Brandl. Additional researchers from the Meat Animal Research Center, namely James Wells and Bryan Neville, contribute to the multidisciplinary effort.

Ruminant animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, possess a digestive system with microbes that aid in breaking down plant materials through fermentation. While this process provides essential nutrients to the animals, it also generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Cattle, for example, can produce between 200 and 500 litres of methane daily, with the amount varying based on factors such as size, diet, genetics, and the unique gut microbiome of each animal.

The research team's focus extends to establishing a healthy microbiome in young animals, fostering normal growth and production while concurrently minimising individual methane production. The insights gained from this study will inform the development of new tools and practices for producers, enhancing food production while reducing methane emissions. Producers will benefit from improved breeding decisions and enhanced feed efficiency, with the research outcomes disseminated through university extension programs.

Derek McLean, dean and director of the Agricultural Research Division at Nebraska, lauds the research as innovative, high-impact, emphasising its potential to deepen understanding and provide science-based solutions for sustainable livestock practices. Ultimately, Kononoff envisions that this research will contribute to improving efficiency, profitability, and the overall sustainability of family dairy and beef operations, aligning with the global effort to mitigate the environmental impact of livestock production.

-      Drovers