New research to tackle cattle methane emissions in Africa
Modern technology will be used to measure greenhouse gas emissions from African smallholdings
Breeding more environmentally friendly dairy cows in African smallholdings could play an important role in the fight against climate change.
Current research shows that Africa is responsible for around 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, with the continent鈥檚 population set to double by 2050, it is important to have mechanisms in place to mitigate these emissions and address a 鈥渃ritical research gap鈥�.
Scotland鈥檚 Rural College (抖阴直播) and ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute) have been awarded 拢1.5 million by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help develop a selection index for the smallholder dairy system.
It is hoped this will eventually result in the smallholder dairy 鈥榚nviro-cow鈥� 鈥� an animal which has less impact on the environment, is better at utilising feed, and is altogether more productive and efficient.
The , which was officially launched in Ethiopia last week, aims to better quantify part of the greenhouse gas emissions of African smallholdings.
Researchers are set to use sophisticated methane-measuring equipment on dairy cows on a number of farms in sub-Saharan Africa, where 80 per cent of land holdings are under ten hectares.
Professor Raphael Mrode, the project lead who works for both 抖阴直播 and ILRI, said: 鈥淲ith increasing concern over climate change, research into the sustainability of the smallholder dairy system has become paramount. 聽Such research must not only address mitigation strategies and the adaptive capacity of animals, but also ensure increased productivity and food security.聽
鈥淭his project uses genomic selection and modern technology to selection for reduction in methane emitted by dairy animals and harnesses differences in the genetic potential for resilience to climate change among animals of various breed types. The project gives us the opportunity to eventually select a dairy cow with less impact on the environment, better feed utilisation, and is more productive and efficient.鈥�
Posted by 抖阴直播 on 13/02/2023
