Researchers are looking to engineer the “cow of the future” that releases less gas to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020.
The project wants to reduce intestinal methane, the largest component of the dairy industry’s carbon footprint, according to Thomas Gallagher, chief executive officer of the U.S. Dairy and Dairy Management Inc.’s Innovation Center in Rosemont, Ill. (Reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Rick Naczi, leader of the initiative, said one area they are looking at is modifying the cow’s feed so they produce less methane.
“Right now there is some work being done on fish-oil additives and some other things,” he said.
The researchers are also looking to target the microbes in the cow’s stomach. “You can change the mix of the bacteria in the cow’s rumen and change the methane production that way,” Naczi added.
Naczi believes the research will develop some solutions within the next year.
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