Reducing GHG Emissions

What we're doing

We’re working with other researchers, industry partners and technology companies to develop and test practical solutions for lowering methane on farm, including:

• Better understanding emissions in NZ pasture-based systems.
• Cows diet, e.g. targeted use of supplementary feeds or different forages.
• Animal, e.g. breed or genetics.
• Feed additives and delivery methods.
• Farm system changes, e.g. stocking rates, fertiliser use.

As well as measuring for methane reductions, we study the impact of these solutions on animal health and performance, milk composition and quality, and farm economics. Learn more about how methane and on-farm emissions are produced.

Most of our research happens at DairyNZ’s Lye Farm, where we test solutions on under real pasture diets conditions to ensure solutions are workable, effective and do not negatively impact profitability or productivity. Lye Farm and our other Waikato research farm, Scott Farm, are an important sector resource, enabling scientists to carry out pasture, animal and farm system trials under real-world conditions.

It takes time to complete robust research into new solutions for New Zealand dairy farms, and many options also need regulatory approval.

Why it matters

New Zealand dairy is already among the most emissions-efficient globally. But market and consumer expectations are changing. Reducing emissions helps keep our sector competitive.

Research overview

Over the past 20 years, potential technologies to reduce methane emissions have emerged around the world. DairyNZ is focused on potential technologies that fit within NZ’s pasture-based systems. There are a lot of moving parts. Take a look at the breakdown below to see what's involved:

Feed additives

• Evaluating delivery mechanisms to feed methane reducing compounds (feed additives) to cows while grazing and ensuring greenhouse gases don't increase. These include early life intervention, slow-release boluses, vaccines, drinking water, supplementary feed during milking, or automated, transportable in paddock feeding stations.
• Determining the short and long-terms effects of feeding methane reducing compounds to calves on methane production (early life intervention).
• Working to understand how cow breed, genetic merit and diet may affect the response to methane reducing compounds.

Cow diet

• Assessing methane emissions when cows graze different forages (like plantain or spring/summer ryegrass) and receive common supplementary feeds.
• This will increase the accuracy of on-farm emissions from pasture-based systems and potentially provide farmers with mitigation options to reduce emissions on farm (e.g., pasture species and or management).
• Read more on the research to better understand methane emissions for pasture-based farm systems.

Animal

• Supporting research into breeding low methane cows.
• DairyNZ has previously funded research into a methanogen vaccine. We are pleased the Government has announced it will provide funding to continue progressing this worthwhile research independent of DairyNZ. This reduces demands on dairy farmers to fund this work.

Farm system

• Supporting regional research into how farm-system changes (e.g., stocking rate, supplementary feed, nitrogen fertiliser use, pasture species and cow genetics) can reduce methane emissions.

Advocacy

• Ensuring the NZ Greenhouse Gas inventory is up to date and accurate so that farmers are rewarded for actions which reduce emissions.
• Undertaking work to allow for more accurate accounting of methane emissions at a national level.

Partnering with farmers

Farmers are actively involved in all the projects to provide their thoughts and advice on opportunities or barriers for adoption of these solutions into NZ farm systems. We’re excited about our continued work alongside farmers and other sector and research organisations to develop mitigation solutions for our unique pasture-based farm systems – and to get ahead of the environmental challenges farmers face.

Programme impact

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to methane reduction. That’s why our research team are working with farmers to develop a range of options suited to different farm systems.

Farmers will be able to choose the approach that best fits their goals and system - giving flexibility while supporting environmental progress.