Title: Canadian Dairy Farmer Breeds Cows with Lower-Methane Genetic Trait to Combat Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Subtitle: Selectively breeding for lower emissions may contribute to reducing methane emissions, claim scientists
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Aug 8 (Reuters) – Canadian dairy farmer Ben Loewith is making strides in tackling one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions by breeding cows with a low-methane genetic trait.
Loewith, a third-generation farmer based in Lynden, Ontario, has partnered with genetics company Semex to artificially inseminate 107 cows and heifers with bull semen possessing the first-to-market low-methane genetic trait.
The availability of commercially viable low-methane cattle genetics could potentially have a significant impact on reducing methane emissions, claim scientists and cattle industry experts.
Methane emissions from cattle are primarily generated through burping. Semex estimates that the adoption of the low-methane trait could lead to a 1.5% annual reduction in methane emissions from Canada’s dairy herd, with the potential to reach 20%-30% by 2050.
The low-methane breeding material, developed through a partnership between Semex and Canada’s milk-recording agency Lactanet, has garnered interest globally. Semex reported early sales in 80 countries, including the United States, Slovakia, and Great Britain.
According to Professor Frank Mitloehner, an animal science expert from the University of California Davis, widespread adoption of low-methane breeding could have a “profound impact” on global cattle emissions.
However, some industry officials remain skeptical about the potential digestive problems that may arise from such breeding programs.
Canada’s agriculture department has recognized the importance of reducing livestock emissions but has not yet assessed the methane evaluation system underlying this breeding initiative.
Currently, livestock account for 14.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with methane ranking as the second-largest contributor after carbon dioxide.
While farmers have resorted to feeding additives to cattle to minimize methane emissions, these methods are not approved for use in the United States and are temporary, wearing off once the cattle stop consuming them.
The low-methane breeding program is the result of seven years of research by scientists from the University of Guelph and the University of Alberta, who measured methane levels in dairy cattle by capturing their exhalations. The data collected was then compared against genetic information and milk samples.
Christine Baes, a professor of animal biosciences at the University of Guelph involved in the project, explains that selecting for the low-methane trait will progressively establish lower emissions in successive generations of cattle.
Semex is initially not charging extra for the low-methane genetic trait, with vice-president of research and innovation, Michael Lohuis, projecting slow sales until financial incentives emerge. However, the Canadian government is currently exploring the introduction of offset credits to incentivize methane reduction through better manure management.
Various countries and food companies have already started promoting the adoption of lower-emission cattle. New Zealand plans to impose taxes on methane emissions from cattle starting in 2025. Nestle and Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, are addressing methane emissions in their supply chains by modifying cattle diets.
The farming community expects that with time, companies will recognize the potential of low-methane breeding in furthering their sustainability goals.
Loewith is keen to witness the outcome of his breeding decisions, noting that the long-term impact will be more significant with each subsequent generation of cattle.
While breeding cattle to produce lower methane emissions has been praised as a potential solution, Juha Nousiainen, the senior vice-president at Finnish dairy Valio, has expressed concern over potential digestive problems that may arise from these breeding programs. He emphasizes that methane is produced by gut microbes during the digestion of fiber, rather than directly from the animal itself.
The potential of breeding cows with low-methane genetic traits is being closely monitored and applauded for its simplicity and low-cost approach in reducing methane emissions on farms. As awareness and acceptance of low-methane breeding grow, it is hoped that the initiative will play a pivotal role in curbing greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector.
Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Suzanne Goldenberg