Estimates of repeatability and heritability of methane production in sheep using portable accumulation chambers

Abstract

This study was designed to screen a large number of sheep to identify individuals with high and low methane (CH4) production, and to estimate repeatability and heritability of CH₄ emissions in sheep, utilising portable accumulation chambers (PAC) designed for in-field use. Mature ewes (n = 710) selected from a research flock with known sires had their CH₄ production over 1 h measured in PAC [CH₄(g1h)]. Individuals with High (n = 103) or Low (n = 104) CH₄ (g1h), adjusted for liveweight (LW), were selected and re-measured on three occasions 1-4 months later, at another site with more abundant and better quality pasture. Mean of the selected (207) ewes CH₄ (g1h) emissions were ~50% higher than at the first measurement site (0.66 g vs 0.42 g).LW was a significant correlate of CH₄ production (r = 0.47). Correlations between CH₄ (g1h) for the three PAC measurements at Site 2, before adjusting for LW ranged from 0.44 to 0.55. After adjusting for the effect of LW, repeatability was 0.33 at the first and 0.43 at the second site. The correlation between estimates of an animal's emissions at the first and second sites, adjusted for LW, was 0.24. Initial CH₄ production of the selected High group was 32% greater than the Low group (P < 0.0001). On re-measurement there was still a significant difference (9-15%, P < 0.006) between Low and High groups. The initial estimate of heritability of CH₄ (g1h), based on variation between the ewes' sires (0.13), was not maintained across the two sites. This may be due to genotype x environment interactions. We postulate that aspects of rumen physiology, which modulate CH₄ production, could be expressed differently in different nutritional environments. Our results indicate that field use of PAC to screen sheep populations for CH₄ production is both robust and repeatable. However, further investigations are required into the relationship between CH₄ output of individual animals in PAC compared with the more controlled conditions in respiration chambers.