WORKING GROUPS

Methane is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to climate change. The livestock sector, particularly ruminants, is estimated to contribute up to 18% of total global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Preliminary data suggest that genetic selection to reduce methane emissions is possible. However, successful breeding programs require large datasets of individual animal measurements which cannot be generated by any EU country working alone.

The goal of METHAGENE is to discuss and agree on 1) protocols to harmonise large-scale methane measurements using different techniques; 2) easy to record and inexpensive proxies for methane emissions to be used for genetic evaluations; and 3) approaches for incorporating methane emissions into national breeding strategies.
The full Memorandum of Understanding can be read here: http://w3.cost.eu/fileadmin/domain_files/FA/Action_FA1302/mou/FA1302-e.pdf
The current members of the management committee of Action F1302 can be found on the EU COST website via the following link: http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/fa/Actions/FA1302?management

METHAGENE consists of five workpackages:

1. Methane determining factors
2. Comparison and calibration of measurements
3. Proxies for methane emission
4. Benefit for producers
5. Knowledge and management exchange

Working Group 1

Enteric methane emissions vary quantitatively within and between days, and within and between animals. A number of factors influence the amount of methane that is eructed. In this COST Action knowledge will be shared of how methane can be measured and how different factors such as time of day, stage of lactation, eating and drinking behaviour, feed intake and feed conversion ratio can influence the recordings, and provide tools for interpreting obtained large scale measurements.
The goal of WG1 is, therefore, to compile a) an inventory and discuss possible factors associated with variation in methane production, b) standardized definitions for methane measurements, and (c) combined and integrated data into novel genetic models.
For more information, please contact Björn Kuhla (b.kuhla@fbn-dummerstorf.de)

Working Group 2

A number of approaches have been used to generate individual measurements of methane from ruminants. In some cases, the trait methane output is defined differently and different techniques are used for its evaluation across countries. Therefore, one of our most important tasks in this COST Action will be to develop systems and methodologies by which trait definitions and evaluation models are harmonised in order to make use of the large and diverse data sources for international genetic and nutritional evaluations but also to compare performance in different populations.
The goal of WG2 is, therefore, to To generate, discuss and develop protocols for collection, harmonisation, comparison, calibration and storage of methane emission measurements on individual animals made using different techniques and measurement strategies.
For more information, please contact Phil Garnsworthy (Phil.Garnsworthy@nottingham.ac.uk)

Working Group 3

Obtaining accurate and repeatable measurements of methane from dairy cows is complex. Therefore, a supplementary approach could be to use indirect indicator traits related to methane production. Several studies are being conducted in this area, based on different approaches. For example, based on the rumen microbiota which are responsible for methane eructed by ruminants, or by estimating feed efficiency of cows under the hypothesis that if a cow eats less for the same milk production, it will eruct less methane, or to use changes in milk composition. Methanogenesis has indirect links with the production of fatty acids in milk and thus milk composition. Currently, all of these indicators are being developed independently and at small scale, and no discussion and studies are being conducted to evaluate the similarity of conclusions generated by all of these indicators. In this COST Action knowledge will be shared of indicator traits for methane emissions from ruminants to facilitate cost-effective inclusion of environmental traits in national and EU breeding strategies.
The goal of WG3 is, therefore, to brainstorm and (in)validate easy to measure, inexpensive indicators of methane that are closely related to enteric, and examine their relationships with methane emissions.
For more information, please contact Enyew Negussie (enyew.negussie@mtt.fi)

Working Group 4

Farmers benefit indirectly via the improved genetic material coming from the breeding organisations giving animals that use their energy intake more efficient. However, it is important that methane emissions are not reduced as a result of decreased digestibility, performance or health and fertility. In this COST Action the focus will be on the importance of methane emission relative to other traits and come up with suggestions on how to include the information in the breeding goal in order to lower the environmental impact of ruminant production systems without adverse effects on production and efficiency. This way, the farmers can make optimal use of the results generated in this project (and subsequent data collected using the guidelines produced in this project) on direct methane measurements and correlated indicator traits.
The goal of WG4 is, therefore, to quantify the importance of methane emissions (or indicators) relative to other performance traits in breeding goals (e.g., milk or meat yield, fertility), and indicate the benefit for producers when methane emissions is included in breeding goals within EU dairy cow populations.
For more information, please contact Eileen Wall (Eileen.wall@sruc.ac.uk)

Working Group 5

The goals of this project will be realised by the following methods: organised and specialised workshops and meetings, Short Term Scientific Missions, dissemination and sharing of information via share points, social media, conferences, scientific papers and articles for the industry.
The goal of WG5 is, therefore, to support knowledge and management exchange (KME) of innovations to methane sensor, breeding, dairy, and meat industries, by:

• Stimulating research, education, exchange of knowledge, technical experience, and mobility among scientists and PhD-students
• Managing and exchanging knowledge with/to the scientific community, policy makers, primary producers, animal breeding organisations, etc.
• Communicating and discussing recent relevant research in this field and the results of METHAGENE

For more information, please contact Marjolein Neuteboom (Marjolein.Neuteboom@effab.info).