Lower-Burp Cows to Be Bred with World-Leading Methods Based on U of G Research

Around the world, almost 14 per cent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs) come from one source: burping livestock.  

Now the first national genetic evaluation in the world to help select low-methane dairy cows – an advance based on University of Guelph research – is expected to help reduce those farm GGEs without affecting milk production.  

The tool is now being used to estimate how much methane will be produced by each of the roughly 700,000 registered dairy cows on farms across Canada. Methane (CH4) has 32 times more global warming impact than carbon dioxide.  

The new tool means breeders can now predict which cows will produce calves that, when fully grown, will ultimately belch out less of the greenhouse gas even as they continue to produce as much or more milk.