Animal scientists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are spearheading a groundbreaking project aimed at reducing methane production in beef and dairy cattle due to rumen fermentation. This three-year, $3.2 million initiative is part of the Greener Cattle Initiative led by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR).
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, 28 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide (CO2), and it dissipates within years rather than centuries. The goal of this project is to decrease enteric methane emissions by 30 to 40%, acknowledging that actions taken now can significantly impact global warming in the near future.
Project leader Rod Mackie, a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, explained that the focus is on the microbial fermentation process within the rumen, particularly the hydrogen production and utilization. The excess hydrogen generated during glycolysis is usually used to convert CO2 into methane. However, the research team is exploring ways to redirect this excess hydrogen towards more beneficial end-products like propionate and butyrate, which are essential energy sources for ruminants.
While many groups are working on directly inhibiting methane using dietary additives, this project concentrates on making such interventions more viable for animals. The research will commence with lab experiments, examining rumen microbial communities from cattle with varying methane production to explore potential changes and inhibitor compounds. Later, they will transition their findings into real cattle.
The complexity of diet components and cattle types necessitates a tailored approach for methane reduction strategies. The project aims to recommend specific inhibitor amounts that do not hinder production performance.
Institutions involved in this project include the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Grasslands Research Centre in New Zealand, the University of Alberta, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and others from around the world.
The team’s long-term vision is for ruminants to play a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade.