Use of methane production data for genetic prediction in beef cattle: A review

• Published in: Translational animal science 2024, Vol.8, p.txae014-txae014
• Main Authors: Dressler, Elizabeth A, Bormann, Jennifer M, Weaber, Robert L, Rolf, Megan M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2573-2102; 2573-2102
• DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae014

Abstract Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that is produced and emitted from ruminant animals through enteric fermentation. Methane production from cattle has an environmental impact and is an energetic inefficiency. In the beef industry, CH4 production from enteric fermentation impacts all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. A variety of factors influence the quantity of CH4 produced during enteric fermentation, including characteristics of the rumen and feed composition. There are several methodologies available to either quantify or estimate CH4 production from cattle, all with distinct advantages and disadvantages. Methodologies include respiration calorimetry, the sulfur-hexafluoride tracer technique, infrared spectroscopy, prediction models, and the GreenFeed system. Published studies assess the accuracy of the various methodologies and compare estimates from different methods. There are advantages and disadvantages of each technology as they relate to the use of these phenotypes in genetic evaluation systems. Heritability and variance components of CH4 production have been estimated using the different CH4 quantification methods. Agreement in both the amounts of CH4 emitted and heritability estimates of CH4 emissions between various measurement methodologies varies in the literature. Using greenhouse gas traits in selection indices along with relevant output traits could provide producers with a tool to make selection decisions on environmental sustainability while also considering productivity. The objective of this review was to discuss factors that influence CH4 production, methods to quantify CH4 production for genetic evaluation, and genetic parameters of CH4 production in beef cattle. A review focused on enteric methane production encompassing the impact on the beef industry, the influence of dietary factors, quantification methodologies, and genetic parameter estimates. Lay Summary Enteric methane production from beef cows is a sustainability concern for the industry. A wide range of factors impact the amount of methane produced by individual animals. Dietary factors include but are not limited to, rumen conditions, dietary lipids, feed type and processing, alternative hydrogen sinks, ionophores, and rumen microbiome composition. The amount of methane produced by individual animals can be quantified with several methodologies including respiration calorimetry, the sulfur-hexafluoride tracer technique, infrare