RuralNews: Breakthrough in livestock emissions

Hamish Carnachan of Rural News reports on the recent mapping of a methanogen genome.

It is hoped that the breakthrough, made by scientists from AgResearch, will contribute substantially in efforts to find ways of mitigating pastoral greenhouse gase emissions.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“They have successfully mapped the genetic information of one of the microbes found in the digestive tracts of ruminant animals responsible for methane production.

“This is expected to accelerate work altering methane generation through vaccinations or other pharmaceutical interventions.

“The findings of Dr Graeme Attwood and his team of researchers were recently published in noted science journal PLOS One.”