July 3, 2023

Colorado State University unveils America's largest cattle emissions research facility

Colorado State University's (CSU) beef feedlot in Fort Collins, Colorado, US, has become the site of AgNext's groundbreaking climate-smart research facility, which aims to study cattle emissions in the country, Dairy Herd Management reported.

Dr Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, director of CSU's AgNext programme, said this is not only a  collaboration between academia and industry partners, but also recognises the facility's significant contributions to date.

Stackhouse-Lawson said that the stakeholders have expressed their concern about the emissions arising from beef and dairy production systems, which are challenging to measure due to their complexity and the need for specialized equipment. In response to these demands, CSU, with the support of industry partners, has constructed the largest research facility of its kind in the US.

CSU's feedlot focuses on conducting research for sustainable practices in animal agriculture and is equipped with US$3 million worth of cutting-edge equipment that enables scientists to monitor and analyse various aspects of cattle's input and output.

Innovative technologies, such as specialised feed bins with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracking, allow for precise monitoring of corn consumption on a per-cow basis. Additionally, the facility utilises the GreenFeed machine, which analyses the gases emitted by cattle.

While the first GreenFeed machine was installed a year ago, the successful measurement of emissions did not commence until November 2022 due to initial challenges.

Stackhouse-Lawson said that contrary to common misconceptions, the majority of methane emissions from cows occur through enteric emissions, primarily from the front end. By utilising the GreenFeed machine, CSU's staff can gather real-time data on methane emissions each time a cow interacts with the device, as the air around the animal's face is drawn directly into the machine.

The dedicated team at CSU is committed to finding solutions that effectively mitigate emissions and reduce the environmental impact of beef production. Their research aims to contribute to a more sustainable and climate-friendly future for the industry.

-      Dairy Herd Management