Australia’s ability to breed ruminant livestock that produce less methane came under expert scrutiny at an AGBU Summit yesterday.
The Summit brought together scientists, industry experts and stakeholders across the supply chain to consider the science of breeding animals that naturally produce lower methane than others, while maintaining key productivity traits, by incorporating characteristics for lower methane production into breeding indexes.
Success in these areas would be an important milestone for Australia’s beef, sheep and goat industries, providing substantial environmental and trade advantages for sectors under pressure to improve greenhouse gas emissions. It is of strategic importance to Meat and Livestock Australia’s goal of making the beef industry carbon neutral by 2030.
AGBU (Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit) is a genetic evaluation research agency, originally focused on livestock but now with a wide brief to add value and improve welfare for animals and crops including forestry, oysters and bees. A joint venture between UNE and NSW Department of Primary Industries, AGBU has since its founding added an estimated $1.18 billion-plus in value to the beef, sheep and other animal and plant industries it contributes to.