SCOTTISH scientists are hoping a new testing equipment will help tackle methane emissions from sheep.
Scotland's Rural College have been using a portable chamber for the first time in the UK – the equipment allows scientists to analyse emissions from sheep, and spot which genetics and feed produces the highest concentrations.
Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas and scientists at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) are using the New Zealand-designed portable accumulation chambers (Pacs) for the first time in the UK to analyse methane concentrations from sheep to identify which of their genetics and feed produce the highest emission levels.
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SRUC's Dr Nicola Lambe said there was an urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from sheep.
The scientist said there were an estimated 1.2 billion sheep in the world producing about seven million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere.
Dr Lambe said: “Despite the fact resource efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions are global priorities, there are few examples around the world of research to implement breeding strategies to directly tackle these issues in sheep.
“This is largely due to the difficulty in recording feed consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on an individual animal basis, especially in grass-based systems."
Rob Hodgkins, who farms 2500 sheep in Hertfordshire, was involved in the first use of the trailer-mounted Pacs.
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He said: "It will only be a matter of time before consumers will be able to look at labels on packets of meat that shows what they’re buying has come from, for example, a carbon-zero sheep.”
The UK government announced plans last month which could see cattle being given special products to help limit the amount of methane they produce.
The announcement formed part of wider UK proposals on how to meet climate targets.
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Livestock such as cows, sheep and deer produce methane when their stomachs are breaking down hard fibres like grass for digestion.
This fermentation process creates methane gas which is then mostly belched out again.
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