Cows bred to produce less methane in their burps could prove to be an important ally in the fight against climate change, scientists have told Sky News.
A groundbreaking breeding programme in Scotland is proving so successful that the amount of the greenhouse gas produced by cattle when they belch or break wind could fall by 40% in just 20 years.
Cows and other farm animals produce at least 12% of global methane emissions, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
But reducing levels could have a significant impact on global warming.
The gas traps 80 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide in the first two decades after it’s released. But it breaks down after only 12 years – so reducing emissions would have rapid results.
Professor Mike Coffey, from Scotland’s Rural College, said calves born in the Cool Cows breeding programme produce 2% less methane than their parents.
“It’s permanent and cumulative. So once you’ve got an animal that produces less methane, she produces less for life,” he explained.
“When you mate her to a lower methane-producing bull her offspring produce even less than she did.
“And you just keep going on and on. Over 20 years, you can reduce it by 40%.”
Methane is produced from cows, sheep and other ruminant animals when microbes in their guts digest grass and other feed.
The amount of the gas released by animals varies, partly because of the number and type of bugs in their stomach. And that’s influenced by inherited genetic factors in the cattle.
A new DNA test made by the company Semex can predict which animals will produce less methane, allowing scientists to match up bulls and cows for the breeding programme.
IVF techniques are then used to produce five or six calves in surrogate mothers each year, rather than the one that would normally be possible.
It means scientists can pick the best animal to breed from, leading…
