Microbiome-Enhanced Cows

Modifying the microbiome of cows is believed to be a solution for inhibiting methane production in cattle. A team of scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel have conducted their experiments over three years, involving 50 cows which were divided into two groups. While one group gave birth naturally, with the other, ruminants were delivered to the calf through cesarean section.

The researchers have come to the conclusion that tweaking the microbiome of cows by "encouraging certain types of microbes to colonize a newborn cow's rumen at the expense of other microbes can have a lifelong effect of reduced methane production."

In light of other solutions, this is a high-stakes, high-impact approach to reducing methane emissions in cows and the study shows promise for future consideration.

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