Hexham farmers focus on genetics for methane, Texans use AI

Researchers in Texas are investigating how artificial intelligence could be used to better-understand methane emissions. In Victoria, it’s a more simple approach.

Texan researchers have found artificial intelligence could reduce intestinal methane emissions in cattle industries.

Meanwhile in Victoria, stud seedstock producers were taking a “more simple” route to deliver to clients.

A USDA Agricultural Research Service and Iowa State University study has used AI to find a group of compound molecules to inhibit methane production in a cow’s rumen, the largest stomach compartment.

In southwest Victoria, Te Mania Angus Merrang farm manager Edward Gubbins said they were ultimately focused on genetic composition to address methane emissions.

“I’d like to think it’s a lot more simple than it sounds like what they’re working on with artificial intelligence,” he said.

“We’re aiming, through our residual feed intake monitoring system, to identify animals and bloodlines which are more efficient.”

Mr Gubbins said they were yet to actively measure methane, but had moved to a new stage with Allflex activity monitoring collars to watch rumination time.

“Collars on animals which is a lot cheaper, more accessible and scalable than measuring methane directly,” he said.

“Ultimately we want to improve the accuracy of EBVs and develop our own one day for methane intensity.”

Te Mania Angus. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Mr Gubbins said a combination of the expert-led research and stud seedstock progress would be “fantastic”.

“It’s exciting and early data suggests we can certainly make a big difference as stud seedstock producers – the best thing about genetics is its permanent, lasting change,” he said.

Agricultural cow methane emissions were 3 per cent of the United States’ total greenhouse gas emissions.

ARS administrator Simon Liu said finding solutions to address methane emissions was critical.

He said the solutions started with a cow’s stomach, where microorganisms caused cows to belch methane for digestion.

“One molecule in particular, bromoform, which is naturally found in seaweed, has been identified by the scientific community to demonstrate properties that can result in reducing cattle enteric methane production by 80-98 per cent when fed to cattle,” he said.

But he said bromoform was a known carcinogen, which limited its use, and scientists continued to research for similar solutions.

Research animal scientist Matthew Beck said they used advanced molecular simulations paired with AI to find methane inhibitors. They looked for safe and scalable options with “large potential”.

They also used in vitro, laboratory, and in vivo, live cattle studies.

He said the results were fed to computer AI models for predictions.

ISU assistant professor Ratul Chowdhury said it helped the researchers understand how the molecules could behave in cows’ stomachs.

“We studied their biochemical fingerprint to identify what makes them do the job successfully as opposed to the other 50,000 molecules that are lurking around in the cow’s rumen but don’t actively stop the production of methane,” he said.

USA-ARS research leader Jacek Koziel said AI could accelerate research and pathways for animal nutritionists, experts and companies.

“There are other promising strategies currently available to mitigate enteric methane emissions, but the available solutions are relatively limited,” he said.