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Short communication: First insights into response to selection for reducing methane emissions in dairy cows
S Fresco1, D Boichard2, S Aguerre3
1Eliance, 149 rue de Bercy, 75595 Paris, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
|November 29, 2025
Summary
Breeding dairy cows for lower methane emissions is possible. Incorporating methane traits into breeding goals can reduce emissions by up to 0.38% annually without significantly compromising milk production or fertility.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Genetics
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Reducing the environmental impact of dairy production is crucial.
- Genetic selection is a key strategy to mitigate methane emissions from livestock.
- Integrating methane emission traits into breeding objectives requires careful consideration of trade-offs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of incorporating methane emission traits into breeding objectives for the Montbéliarde dairy cattle breed.
- To evaluate different selection scenarios balancing methane reduction with other economically important traits.
- To estimate the potential genetic progress for methane emissions and associated traits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genetic (co)variances between existing traits and methane traits predicted from milk mid-infrared spectra.
- Modeled three distinct selection scenarios for the Montbéliarde dairy cattle breed.
- Estimated expected genetic progress under each scenario.
Main Results:
- The current breeding index necessitates the inclusion of methane traits for effective reduction.
- Achieving a -1% annual reduction in methane emissions compromises genetic gain in milk production (66%) and fertility (65%).
- A balanced approach (Scenario 3) achieved -0.38% annual methane reduction while maintaining 90% of the genetic gain for other traits.
Conclusions:
- Genetic selection offers a viable pathway to reduce methane emissions in dairy cattle.
- Including methane traits in breeding objectives is feasible and can lead to environmental benefits.
- Balancing methane reduction with other production and fertility traits is essential for sustainable dairy breeding programs.
Keywords:
CattleEnvironmental footprintExpected genetic gainMilk mid-infrared predictionTotal merit indexMore Related Videos
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