Hilda may look like an ordinary calf, but the sprightly, Scotland-born animal represents an historic moment, say researchers, and could help accelerate the dairy industry’s ambitions to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The calf belongs to the Dumfries-based Langhill herd – which has been a data source for the UK dairy industry for more than 50 years – and is the first in the herd to be born through IVF.
According to the scientists monitoring the herd, IVF allows for faster breeding of cows with desirable traits, including lower methane production.
Fertilising Hilda’s mother’s eggs in a lab has meant the next generation of the Langhill Herd has arrived eight months earlier than previously possible.
The birth of Hilda is expected to double the rate of genetic gain in the herd, thus speeding up the process of selecting and breeding more methane-efficient animals.
“With global consumption of dairy produce continuing to grow, breeding livestock for sustainability is extremely important,” says Professor Richard Dewhurst, from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), which is one of the partners in the project. “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.”
Rob Simmons from the Paragon Veterinary Group, a partner in the project, says: “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, adds: “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.”
The race for greener dairy
Big food retailers in the UK including Tesco are trialling the use of feed additives to reduce methane from cows.
One feed additive made by DSM-Firmenich, called Bovaer, has been met with a backlash from consumers, highlighting the need for more solutions to the problem of methane – a potent greenhouse gas that poses significant environmental and health risks.