Biotech Updates

Biotechnology Helps Reduce Cattle Gas Emissions

July 3, 2013

Biotechnologies increase food production and reduce harmful gas output from cattle, says Animal Frontiers article on a recent experiment using biotechnologies. Clayton Neumeier, a PhD student from University of California Davis, and other researchers tested a group of cattle treated with biotech products. Different groups of cattle were treated with lonophores, implants, and beta-adrenergic agonists which all function to help cattle grow more efficiently. Another group were also injected with rBST, a synthetic cattle hormone that helps cows produce more milk. A control group of cattle were not applied with any of the said products.

Results showed that the rBST group produced more milk per cow. When cows produce more milk, greenhouse gas emissions decrease because farms need fewer cows. Dr. Kim Stackhouse, National Cattleman's Beef Association Director of Sustainability, said animal agriculture has reduced emissions through the use of technologies. Technologies that improve animal performance, crop yields, and manure management, and the installation of biogas recovery systems have all contributed to reducing the environmental impact of the beef industry.

"We need to inform them that these are valuable tools for those two reasons and not be turned off by the use of biotechnology," Neumeier said.

Read the complete story at https://www.asas.org/membership-services/press-room/press-release-interpretive-summary-archive/cattle-flatulence-doesn-t-stink-with-biotechnology.