On the way to cutting methane emissions
Current research programs in Wales on sheep genetic improvement could help reduce methane emissions by 0.08% per year.
“Increasing ewe litter size and longevity by genetic improvement over 10 years could reduce methane emissions by 8.8% and 3.8%, respectively. Lamb weights also have the potential to increase by 0.8 kg and reduce days to finish a lamb by six days, which in turn could reduce methane emissions by 0.5% per tonne of carcass,” says Dr. Catherine Nakielny of KN Consulting who has been working on developing a model to predict changes in methane emissions by genetic improvements in the Welsh flock.
To access the full article by Sarah Trickett (Farmers Weekly Interactive, 11/10/2011), click here.
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