“Breeding for reduced methane emission and feed-efficient Holstein cows: An international response.” Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 104 No. 8, 2021. This interesting article from researchers from universities in Denmark, Australia, Switzerland and Canada (University of Guelph and University of Alberta), explores the role of genetic selection of animals as a way to reduce methane emissions.

A green future, incentivised by government, is being mapped out in Norway with electric vehicles now accounting for 60% of new car sales, leaving fossil-fuel vehicles lagging. And the dairy industry isn’t being left out. The Norwegian Government has put 15 million NOK  (£1.275 million) – an amount matched by the country’s cattle breeding company Geno – into a cattle breeding project, which is monitoring methane emissions not only on dairy units, but also in its Norwegian Red young bull testing  station.

The livestock industry is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and there is an increasing demand for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint.

At just 2% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), dairies across the country have made significant improvements to produce food more efficiently, conserve resources and reduce waste.