Developing optimal methane mitigation strategy for milk production by animal breeding
The Finnish Research Impact Foundation
Natural Resources Institute Finland
Methane emissions from ruminants are a key factor in reducing the environmental footprint of dairy production. Methane levels can be reduced either by selecting low-emitting cows or indirectly by improving feed efficiency. The assessment of feed efficiency, however, has been complicated by the absence of technically and economically feasible tools. This joint project between Natural Resources Institute Finland and Valio will be working to develop a method for detailed analysis of feed efficiency based on the measurement of cows’ respiratory gases. The volume of oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide produced provide crucial information on the metabolism of cows. The same device can be used to simultaneously measure the gas exchange of about 25 cows, and the data generated can help to reduce both methane emissions from dairy production and other environmentally detrimental gases.
Tandem Industry Academia (TIA) Postdoc (2024)