The Paris Agreement commitments to global emissions-reduction targets has elevated the discussion of methane production from cows <Link>. While some claim inaction from the livestock segment, a Minnesota study of forages contradicts those claims.
Perennial forages are often praised for their ability to capture atmospheric carbon and sequester it in the soil. Now a Minnesota study looking at different enteric methane profiles of forage types indicates positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions beyond the field and into the feedbunk.
Source: Hay and Forage Grower, April 2, 2024. Link.
The biggest distinction among the observed species was the enteric methane production of grain forages like corn, wheat, and oats continued to rise over time, whereas that of crops like alfalfa, teffgrass, and German foxtail millet dropped off after 24 hours.”