Reducing methane emissions in New Zealand's national sheep flock through targeted breeding. This ground-breaking project aims to give every sheep farmer in New Zealand the opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their flock by selecting and breeding sheep with naturally lower methane emissions.
To achieve this, the programme is helping to identify and increase the availability of low methane rams in the breeding sector. In time, farmers will be able to use the credentials of low methane rams they buy and use to track the progress of their own flock.
B+LNZ is leading the three-year programme, with support from the Ministry for Primary Industries through its Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF). B+LNZ is investing our time and expertise to provide tools for farmers to manage and reduce their ruminant methane emissions because a number of farmers have told us this is important to them. Participation in this programme is voluntary, and the response from many farmers has been enthusiastic.
Access all Cool Sheep information and resources through the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub
The Cool Sheep® Programme comprises four key projects:
Combining targeted ram genotyping with methane phenotyping (measuring individual animal methane emissions using Portable Accumulation Chamber trailers, PAC), ram breeders will be able to offer commercial farmers a greater supply of low methane rams to reduce emissions while increasing productivity.
Commercial farmers utilising the ram selection tool nProve.nz will have methane reduction as a selectable trait, with rams sold having a clear measure of their predicted impact to lower methane counting in GHG calculations.
On-farm GHG calculators will show methane reductions from genetic selection as progeny accumulate, with farmers recognised and rewarded for using low methane genetics to reduce their farm’s overall methane production. The reduction in methane production from the national flock will be captured in the national GHG inventory.
Farmers gain the awareness, knowledge, skills, and confidence to incorporate low methane rams in their flocks. The wider farming community and general public are aware of progress in methane reduction in national GHG inventories from genetic selection while increasing productivity at a national scale. The programme will be informed by farmers utilising multiple avenues to ensure our communication is as effective as possible.
Cool Sheep Programme contact: Cynthia Lawrence, Cool Sheep® Programme Manager – [email protected]