News
11 May, 2024
$US3.2 Million Project Aims to Cut Methane Emissions While Boosting Cattle Health
A new $US3.2 million research initiative is leveraging Queensland’s agricultural expertise to improve the health and performance of beef and dairy cattle while tackling methane emissions
A new $US3.2 million research initiative is leveraging Queensland’s agricultural expertise to improve the health and performance of beef and dairy cattle while tackling methane emissions.
The project, part of the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s Greener Cattle Initiative, is led by the University of Illinois and involves seven international research hubs, including Australia.
The Australian research hub, a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Australian biotech company ProAgni, and the University of California Davis (UC Davis), will focus on methane suppression products that increase hydrogen release in cattle's rumen. Researchers aim to test whether probiotic bacteria can capture this hydrogen and convert it into usable products for the cattle’s digestive system, ensuring a sustainable reduction in methane emissions alongside improved cattle health.
The project will start by studying hydrogen-utilising bacteria in the lab, using a fermenter designed to mimic the rumen’s conditions. The bacteria’s effect on methane production will be assessed, with successful candidates developed into in-feed probiotics that enhance energy capture and reduce methane emissions.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner stressed the importance of reducing methane emissions to tackle climate change while ensuring the sustainability of the beef and dairy industries. Diane Ouwerkerk, Senior Principal Molecular Biologist at DAF, welcomed the potential of dietary additives to inhibit methane and turn excess hydrogen into energy, benefiting both livestock production and the environment.
