Breeding low methane cattle
Coming mid-way in the rankings of most popular stories on the site in June was an article about a breeding milestone being achieved in Canada.
It is the first country to deliver a national genetic evaluation aimed at lowering methane emissions.
Lactanet Canada, a not-for-profit organization that provides herd management tools and national genetic evaluations for dairy farmers, is undertaking the first national genetic evaluation in the world to help select low-methane dairy cows.
The Methane Efficiency trait has been added to dozens of genetic traits in Canada’s national evaluation system that is routinely used in selecting cattle for breeding. Holstein cattle make up most of Canada’s national dairy herd.
The new tool means breeders can now predict which cows will produce calves that, when fully grown, will releases less of the greenhouse gas (GHG) even as they continue to produce the same amount of milk.
Photo credit: GettyImages/NicoElNino