Hilda the IVF cow makes ‘vastly vital’ fart free breakthrough to cease the top of the world
The calf, which was born via IVF, is part of a special project aimed at breeding more environmentally-friendly cows in a bid to produce less of the greenhouse gas methane
BOFFINS have bred a fart-free cow which they reckon could save the planet.
Vets working on a project to breed more environmentally-friendly cows have described as “hugely significant” the birth of a calf using IVF, saying it could accelerate the dairy industry’s journey to net zero.
The calf, named Hilda, is part of the Cool Cows project, which is aiming to breed cattle that produce less of the greenhouse gas methane.
Scientists on the project said using the technique, which involved Hilda’s mother’s eggs being fertilised in a lab, meant the next generation of the herd arrived eight months earlier than was previously possible.
With the process to be repeated, scientists said it would double the rate of “genetic gain” in the herd, and so speed up the process of selecting and breeding more “methane-efficient” animals.
Professor Richard Dewhurst, from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), which is one of the partners in the project, said: “With global consumption of dairy produce continuing to grow, breeding livestock for sustainability is extremely important.
“The birth of Hilda is potentially a hugely significant moment for the UK dairy industry.
“We will use a new genomic assessment alongside existing production and environmental efficiency indices to select elite, methane-efficient heifers for breeding.
“The Cool Cows project will produce a greater number of offspring from these donors, rapidly establishing a nucleus of highly methane-efficient calves.”
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The Langhill Herd has been used in a number of studies into the greenhouse gas emissions associated with dairy production, including around the effects of different diets, and the impact of different fertilisers on grasslands.
Rob Simmons from the Paragon Veterinary Group, another partner in the project, said genetically improving the “methane efficiency” of dairy cows was “key” to improving the sustainability of the sector.
He said: “Genetic improvement in methane efficiency is going to be key to continuing to provide nutritious food to the public, while controlling the impact of methane emissions on the environment in the future.”
Stuart Martin, from Digital Dairy Chain, which funded the project, said: “With the environmental impact of farming being a critical global issue, projects that look for innovative solutions to mitigate this impact are vital to the industry.
“The birth of the first Cool Cows calf marks a significant milestone, promising significant results for the future of sustainable farming.”
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