October 15, 2024

 

Scientists seek to create low-methane-emitting dairy cows in Inner Mongolia, China

 

 

 

A team of scientists has embarked on a mission in China's Inner Mongolian autonomous region to create low-methane-emitting dairy cows.

 

Launched last year by Sk.xing, the largest cow breeding enterprise in China, the project aims to identify genes that contribute to high milk production, longevity and low emissions of methane, according to the company which is headquartered in Inner Mongolia's capital Hohhot.

 

Li Xihe, a leading scientist at the company, shed light on the intricate, multi-phased research involved in achieving the mission's goal of decarbonising the dairy cow sector. His team's efforts start with measuring the methane emissions of individual cows using a special device resembling a feeding trough, he said. This application not only attracts the cows but also monitors the gases they inhale and exhale, providing valuable data for analysis.

 

As a ruminant animal, cows host millions of tiny microbes in their stomachs. While they aid in digestion and are helpful to the livestock's health, a by-product of their functioning is the creation of methane gas , which is expelled into the atmosphere through the animal's mouth and rear end.

 

The team is using mid-infrared spectra to collect methane emission data and utilising machine and deep learning algorithms to build a predictive model for each cow's methane output, Li added.

 

"With the established model, the researchers can predict the methane emission level of each cow, serving as a crucial parameter for identifying low-emission candidates," he said.

 

To complete the selection process, the team analysed the complete genome of each cow, ultimately selecting those with both low methane emissions and desirable genetic traits.

 

Li described the research as a meticulous process that requires time and dedication. Developing a reliable methane emission prediction model takes at least two years, he said.

 

Assessing the chosen cows' milk components and mid-infrared data requires another year. Selecting cows with both high milk production and longevity while maintaining low methane emissions takes an additional one to two years.

 

However, more research is still needed after the low-carbon core herd is established, Li said.

 

Scientists will meticulously monitor the herds' methane emissions, milk production, and other vital parameters to build a comprehensive database that confirms the low-methane status of the selected cows.

 

"These exceptional cows will then form the foundation of a breeding programme, producing low-methane embryos and facilitating large-scale herd expansion," he said.

 

Li and his team are also exploring the ideal fodder and management practices for these cows, optimising their living environment to ensure that they fully express their low-methane genetic potential.

 

- China Daily

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