Cows have four stomachs and chew their cud, and it is this characteristic that causes cattle to release methane. This is a natural process in nature that has nevertheless become a challenge for today's society.
When ruminants digest their feed, methane gas (CH4) from the gut (in manure) and from the rumen (from rape). Methane (CH4) is one of the most important greenhouse gases and it is estimated that agriculture accounts for over 50 % of methane emissions in the world.
The production of methane in cows is an energy-intensive process. The emission of methane is actually a loss of energy.
Additives in the feed
Seaweed, algae, biochar or enzymes can produce less methane from the rumen
Experiments are underway around the world to find out whether substances can be added to feed that reduce methane emissions from cattle and sheep. Many different additives have shown great effect in "in vitro experiments" (in test tubes), but few have so far shown to give consistent effects in long-term animal experiments. However, researchers have obtained good results with a substance that prevents the last step in methane formation in the rumen (3-NOP). In the climate game, we have chosen 15% reduction of methane from the rumen and intestines as the standard, but we see from the articles below that others are much more optimistic.
Reducing forage waste
From the time the grass is baled, put in a silo or dried into hay until it is eaten by the cow, we experience some feed waste. The grass can be lost during mowing, in the ensiling process, damaged during storage or discarded by the cow on the feed tray. We can influence feed waste by doing the job of taking care of the grass properly, having good storage and ensuring that the cow gets good roughage that is eaten on the feed tray. If we manage to take better care of the grass and avoid waste, greenhouse gas emissions per produced unit will decrease.
Better forage
Early harvested grass results in increased production and lower methane emissions from digestion. When grass is harvested earlier (above 0.90 Fem/kg DM), this can reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to two mechanisms. 1. Lower methane production from the rumen due to higher digestibility. 2. Higher performance and thus more kg of milk to distribute the greenhouse gas emissions over.
Better fertility and animal health
An animal that lives well and has good health and fertility will produce more milk and meat. When an animal gets sick or it takes longer for the cow to calve, production will be reduced. If you improve the animal health and fertility of your herd, there will be more kg of meat and milk to distribute the greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, you save money and worries in the barn.
Improve breeding in the herd
Through breeding, we have over many decades bred a cow with better health while increasing production. This provides better economics for the farmer and lower climate emissions per kg of milk and kg of meat. The Norwegian NRF cow is also a combination cow that produces both milk and meat, and means less climate emissions per unit produced. When you actively breed in your own herd, you contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from your herd. Now the breeding organization GENO is also starting to breed on methane emissions to make the cow even more sustainable with lower emissions.
Age at first calving and increased number of lactations
The age of a cow that calve for the first time in Norway is almost 26 months. If the cow has her first calf at 24 months, we will save emissions for 2 months where the heifer has no production. In this way, we will have less emissions per kg of meat and per liter of milk that the cow produces. The same will happen if the cow lives longer. The emissions that occur before the animal comes into production are distributed over more liters of milk and meat and the emissions per produced unit decrease.
Watch video about
Early mowing will make the cow more climate-friendly
Webinars
Methane inhibitors with Harald Volden and Eirik Selmer-Olsen
Here you can read more about
Geno on sustainability and social responsibility
Discussion
News from TV2 and Q-dairies about the addition of 3-NOPi to feed
