A new international study shows that genetic selection allows researchers to select for cattle that are less likely to have high levels of methane-producing bacteria in their rumen. Professor John Williams, study leader and co-author with the University of Adelaide’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, explains the study design, how this could compromise selection for other characteristics and a correlation to milk production efficiency.
Source: The Cattle Site, July 8, 2019. Link. “We don’t yet know, but if it turned out that low-methane production equated to greater efficiencies of production – which could turn out to be true given that energy is required to produce the methane – then that would be a win-win situation.” – Professor John Williams