Environment

Reducing Emissions from Livestock Research Program

The production of methane is a characteristic by-product of the digestive process of ruminant animals, that allows them to thrive on grasses and other fibrous feedstuffs. Methane plays a critical role in removing the hydrogen produced in microbial fermentation in the large fore-stomach (rumen) of these animals, allowing efficient digestion, growth and performance. Methane is also a strong greenhouse gas.

In the Reducing Emissions from Livestock Research Program (RELRP) major research groups in Australia, with expertise in the science of rumen biology and livestock management, are collaborating to develop practical on-farm options for reducing methane emissions from livestock while at the same time increasing productivity.

Research is also being undertaken to develop technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from animal waste in feedlots.

Objective of the research program

The objective of the RELRP is to develop practical on-farm options to achieve a significant reduction in methane emissions from livestock, and to quantify the level of abatement achievable while at the same time increasing productivity.

Program structure

MLA is coordinating the program on behalf of, and in partnership with, the Commonwealth.

The 23 RELRP projects are grouped in six themes:

1. National strategies and coordination (1 project)
2. Quantifying methane emissions measurement techniques (1 project)
3. Genetic approaches in sheep and cattle to reduce emissions (2 projects)
4. Manipulation of rumen function or activity for lower emissions (9 projects)
5. Improved waste management in feedlots (1 project)
6. Farming systems for lower methane emissions, information and delivery (9 projects)
   
   

Project topics

1. An individual enteric methane measuring system for ruminants (no brochure available)
2. Mitigation of methane emissions from the northern Australian beef herd
3. Metagenomic analysis of feed utilisation and hydrogen balance for lower methane emissions
4. Genetic improvement of beef cattle for GHG outcomes
5. Archaeaphage therapy to control rumen methanogens
6. Rumen microbial profiling: A tool to investigate methane mitigation strategies
7. Enteric methane abatement strategies for ruminant production systems in South-Eastern Australia
8. Novel strategies for enteric methane abatement
9. Understanding the mechanism behind the antimethanogenic bioactivity of Australian plants in grazing systems
10. Methanotrophs in natural ecosystems and their role in ruminant methane mitigation
11. Reducing methane emissions by supplementing feed with dietary lipids
12. Breeding low methane emitting sheep and understanding the underlying biology
13. Microbial ecology of hydrogenotrophic rumen microorganisms in response to methane inhibitors
14. Manure management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cattle feedlots
15. UWA Ridgefield demonstration project for on-farm practical methane management strategies
16. Information integration and delivery
17. CSIRO Landsdown demonstration project for on-farm practical methane management strategies
18. UNE Trevenna demonstration project for on-farm practical methane management strategies
19. Victorian DPI EverGraze (Hamilton) and 3030 (Terang) demonstration project for on-farm for practical methane management strategies
20. University of Wollongong Open-path FTIR project
21. Development of historic database and metanalysis facility for livestock emissions
22. National strategies and coordination
    
    

Program partners

RELRP is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Climate Change Research Program and MLA, with project support from the following collaborating organisations:

• Australian Farm Institute
• Australian Wool Innovation
• CSIRO
• Dairy Australia
• Department of Primary Industries Victoria
• Sheep CRC
• South Australian Research and Development Institute
• University of Melbourne
• University of New England
• University of Queensland
• University of Western Australia
• University of Wollongong

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