Selective breeding of sheep offers the potential to reduce methane emissions by identifying and breeding sheep with lower methane production per unit of feed intake and improved feed conversion efficiency, resulting in both environmental benefits and increased profitability.
What Can I Do?
Sheep farmers can undertake research and consider implementing selective breeding practices for your sheep herd to reduce methane emissions by identifying and breeding animals with lower methane production per unit of feed intake and improved feed conversion efficiency. This has the potential to not only benefit the environment but also enhance your farm’s profitability through increased growth rates and feed conversion efficiencies.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have resources to support your research, including work being undertaken at Katanning Research Station. Carbon neutral by 2030 Katanning Research Station details techniques and methods being researched to mitigate carbon emissions from the livestock industry.
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Selective breeding of sheep for reduced methane emissions | Agriculture and Food