Symposium review: Development of a funding program to support research on enteric methane mitigation from ruminants

Abstract

Enteric methane is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions from milk production systems. Two organizations based in the United States, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and the Dairy Research Institute, have developed a collaborative program to align resources and fund projects to identify, develop, and validate new and existing mitigation options for enteric methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle. This collaborative program is called the Greener Cattle Initiative. The program will develop requests for proposals and award grants on projects that address challenges within, but not limited, to the following research areas: dairy and beef cattle nutrition, rumen microbiome, dairy and beef cattle genetics, sensing and data technology for enteric methane measurement and prediction, and socioeconomic analysis of enteric methane mitigation practices. The program is structured as a consortium with closed participation and a flat governance collaboration model. The Greener Cattle Initiative program will continue incorporating participants from the food and agriculture industry, commodity groups, and nonprofit organizations who share common objectives and contribute in-kind and matching funds to the program, up to a total of 10 organizations. Research findings will be communicated broadly, after a waiting period for exclusive access to program participants, to create shared knowledge on enteric methane mitigation. The Greener Cattle Initiative is expected to award up to $5 million in research grant funding in a 5-year period, which will contribute to advancing the voluntary greenhouse gas reduction goals established by both the United States and global dairy sectors.

Symposium review: Effective nutritional strategies to mitigate enteric methane in dairy cattle

“…Similarly, the mitigation effect of 3-NOP in the Melgar et al (2021) study decreased from 31% during wk 3 to 24% during wk 15; in the first experiment, the rate of decrease was 0.61 g/kg of DMI per week and, in the second experiment, the decrease was 0.56 g/kg of DMI per week. These observations suggest a possible transient, or inconsistent, effect of 3-NOP over time in diets that are around 28 to 31% (or higher, as implied by Schilde et al, 2021) aNDF, and require further investigation in long-term, full-lactation or multiple-lactation studies, as proposed by Tricarico et al (2022).…”

Technology for Carbon Neutral Animal Breeding

“…In milk production systems, enteric methane is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions [22]. An additional cost-effective, long-lasting, and cumulative mitigation strategy involves breeding animals that take advantage of the natural variation in CH4 emissions.…”

Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Crop Production and Management Practices, and Livestock: A Review

“…The major source of GHG emissions from agricultural production is the enteric fermentation of ruminant livestock, and the interest in reducing CH 4 production in ruminants continues to grow globally [246]. According to the UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2022 [247], beyond the necessity to change diets, the reduction of CH 4 emissions from ruminants can be achieved via changes in feed level and feed composition, which can also increase animal productivity.…”