SAC Research

Commenting on the awards, SAC's Prof Geoff Simm said,

"Ruminant livestock are important contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.  However, there is much that we can do to reduce them by selecting for improved productivity."

The first of the projects will examine the contribution that new livestock breeding tools, such as exciting new approaches to the understanding of genetics, can make to mitigating GHG emissions.  There is a potential role in promoting these through new links between breeders of ruminant livestock.  

The second investigation is into the changes that need to be made to livestock selection to help reduce GHG emissions.

Finally there is to be a review of any evidence of variation in the efficiency of nutrient use between and within farm livestock breeds. It is a key issue in productive efficiency and GHG emissions.
 
“As well as selecting directly for lower methane output we need to consider improved productivity and efficiency, better fertility and health and reduced mortality” said Geoff Simm. “Many of these options are 'win wins' - producing benefits for farmers, animals and the environment."

The projects will focus on the contribution that new breeding tools such as genome mapping can make and explore how new networks linking livestock breeders and breeding companies, processors, retailers, researchers and many others in the supply chain can help achieve the goal of reducing emissions faster.

According to Professor Simm, ruminants have the unique ability to convert plant material that humans can't use directly into high quality food.  He believes it is vital  that at a time of growing global demand for food, we ensure that our livestock do this efficiently with proper regard to their welfare and their environmental impact.  He believes the award of the DEFRA research projects to SAC and partners is an important step in that direction.