Scottish scientists launch low-methane cow breeding to fight climate change

Scottish scientists have launched a groundbreaking low-methane cow breeding program to tackle global warming.

Scotland’s Rural College in partnership with Semex has developed a new DNA test, helping them to predict which animals will produce less methane.

 Resultantly, based on the prediction, the scientists can match up bulls and cows for the breeding programme.

Using IVF technique, researchers can breed the cattle that produce less methane through digestion. This technique will allow scientists to pick the best animal to breed from, leading to more rapid methane reduction without causing any genetic modifications.

This program aims to reduce emissions by 2 percent per generation and potentially slash UK livestock methane by 40 percent over 20 years.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, cows and other livestock are responsible for emitting 12 percent of methane emissions.

Compared to carbon dioxide, methane gas captures 80 times more heat in the atmosphere in the first two decades after it is released.

Professor Mike Coffey from Scotland’s Rural College said the calves produced in the Cool Cows breeding programme will emit 2 percent less methane than their parents.

"It's permanent and cumulative. So once you have got an animal that produces less methane, she produces less for life. When you mate her to a lower methane-producing bull her offspring produce even less than she did. And you just keep going on and on. Over 20 years, you can reduce it by 40 percent,” he explained.