Semex is introducing a genetic solution that it says can reduce methane emissions 20 to 30 per cent by 2050.
Dr. Michael Lohuis, Semex’s vice-president for research and innovation, said in a release Tuesday that the company has been working with industry scientists toward such a goal. For more than five years, he said Canada’s milk recording organizations, now under Lactanet, collected over 13 million milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy records. Lactanet geneticists analyzed more than seven hundred thousand first lactation MIR records in order to be able to predict methane emissions for milk-recorded cows across Canada.
“The results showed that you can substantially reduce methane emissions with genetic selection,” said Lohuis.
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In April, Lactanet will publish Methane Efficiency breeding values producers can use to significantly reduce methane emissions in their herds. For genomic bulls, it is 70 per cent reliable and genetic selection alone is estimated to reduce emissions 20 to 30 per cent by 2050, Semex said in its release.
Semex’s global Elevate users will automatically receive a methane index on all genomic tested females. Additionally, an index will be available on Semex Holstein sires beginning in April. This gives dairies a clear-cut genetic solution and a faster conversion to a lower methane herd, the company said in the release.
“Methane is a global enemy,” said Drew Sloan, Semex’s vice-president for corporate development.
“In fact, most developing nations are adopting laws targeting net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This new trait is a game changer.”
