Genetic index to rank cattle on emissions

The firm claims the index, which will measure methane efficiency, will reduce livestock greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30% by 2050.

In April, Lactanet will publish methane efficiency breeding values that producers can use to reduce methane emissions in their herds, Semex said.

One of the world’s biggest livestock genetics firms, Semex, has developed an index to identify lower-emission breeding lines of cattle, which it claims has the potential to reduce livestock greenhouse gas emissions by 20%-30% by 2050.

The company, which is headquartered in Canada, will rate the methane efficiency of individual animals through specific genetic markers.