The best bull for reducing methane
Which bull is the best choice for reducing methane emissions? Researchers Yvette de Haas and Hilde van den Hoorn have calculated how much of a difference this could make in the coming years.
Cows emit the greenhouse gas methane during the digestion of grass, but not every cow produces the same amount of methane. If farmers take this into account when selecting bulls, it is possible to achieve a small reduction in methane emissions with each new generation of cows. For dairy farmer Ron Burgsteden, this criterion has become more important in recent years: “In addition to milk production and the cow’s temperament, I’m now paying increasing attention to methane production. If I breed cows and bulls with a good methane score—meaning they emit slightly less methane than average—then I can be sure I won't fall below the minimum”
Researchers Yvette de Haas and Hilde van den Hoorn calculated how much profit can be achieved over twenty years in terms of methane emissions by incorporating these small variations into breeding programs. Watch the video to see the results of the study on the role of bull selection in methane reduction and how dairy farmer Ron Burgsteden applies this in practice.
Which bull is the best choice for slightly reducing methane emissions in each generation of cows?
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