The impact of breeding to reduce residual feed intake on enteric methane emissions from the Australian beef industry
A. R. Alford A C , R. S. Hegarty A , P. F. Parnell A , O. J. Cacho B , R. M. Herd A and G. R. Griffith AA NSW Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B School of Economics, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: andrew.alford@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(7) 813-820 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05300
Submitted: 17 November 2005 Accepted: 13 April 2006 Published: 8 June 2006
Abstract
The expected reduction in methane emissions from the Australian beef herd resulting from using bulls identified as being more feed efficient as a result of having a lower residual feed intake (RFI) was modelled, both in a single herd in southern Australia and in the national herd. A gene flow model was developed to simulate the spread of improved RFI genes through a breeding herd over 25 years, from 2002 to 2026. Based on the estimated gene flow, the voluntary feed intakes were revised annually for all beef classes using livestock populations taken from the Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI). Changes in emissions (kg methane/animal.year) associated with the reduction in feed intake were then calculated using NGGI procedures. Annual enteric methane emissions from both the individual and national herd were calculated by multiplying the livestock numbers in each beef class by the revised estimates of emissions per animal. For an individual adopting herd, the annual methane abatement in year 25 of selection was 15.9% lower than in year 1. For the national herd, differential lags and limits to adoption were assumed for northern and southern Australia. The cumulative reduction in national emissions was 568 100 t of methane over 25 years, with annual emissions in year 25 being 3.1% lower than in year 1. It is concluded that selection for reduced RFI will lead to substantial and lasting methane abatement, largely as a consequence of its implementation as a breeding objective for the grazing beef herd.
Additional keywords: beef industry, greenhouse gas, feed efficiency, residual feed intake.
Acknowledgments
Procedures used in this analysis were initially developed using funding provided by the Australian Greenhouse Office.
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