September 4, 2024

 

Event in Northern Ireland, UK, touched on genetic factors' influence on methane production of ruminants

 

 

Breeding ruminant livestock that produce less methane while, at the same time, achieving higher levels of performance, is feasible, according to a speaker at a recent beef and lamb open day in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, hosted by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

 

Key messages delivered by Sam Boon, who heads up the Signet sheep breeding programme at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), entailed the confirmation that, under the same farm conditions, there will be variations in relation to the amount of methane produced by animals within the same group.

 

"Some of the differences in methane production levels achieved by ruminant livestock can be attributed to genetic factors," Boon said. "The beauty of genetics is that, unlike health and nutrition, it delivers a cumulative benefit across the generations.

 

"(With) genetics, we can build on the process: it delivers a cumulative impact which is sustainable into the future…"

 

There are two ways of reducing methane output within the ruminant livestock sectors – one is through direct selection.

 

"The other is through a process of indirect selection," Boon commented. Direct selection involves the actual measurement of the methane emissions produced by livestock.

 

However, the AHDB representative admitted that it is harder to measure methane emission levels with cattle.

 

"The way around this challenge is to measure the feed efficiency of the animals," he said. "We know there is a high degree of correlation between the efficiency with which animals convert feed intake into meat or milk and the associated levels of methane that are produced."

 

Indirect selection involves the assessment of efficiency-related indices.

 

"Where dairy sires are concerned, the availability of an enviro index is now available," Boon commented. "So we also know that there is a more general association between growth rates, feed conversion, and maternal traits, linked to the overall efficiency secured within a beef and sheep enterprise.

 

"The higher the levels of efficiency secured, then the lower will be the levels of associated methane that are produced."

 

- Agriland