Is methane production likely to be a future Merino selection criterion?

Title
Is methane production likely to be a future Merino selection criterion?
Publication Date
2009
Author(s)
Cottle, David
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3875-3465
Email: dcottle2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:dcottle2
Van Der Werf, Julius H
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2512-1696
Email: jvanderw@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:jvanderw
Banks, Robert
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)
Place of publication
Armidale, Australia
UNE publication id
une:5539
Abstract
Selection index theory was used to model the effects of including feed intake and methane (CH₄) production in the breeding objective and having both, either or none of these traits as selection criteria on genetic responses in Merino production traits. A range of economic values (EV) were assumed for CH₄ production based on expected future prices for CO₂-e ($/tonne). The implicit price of carbon required to achieve desired gains of a reduction in CH₄ of 1% p.a. were calculated. The sensitivity of desired gains to changes in the correlations between production traits and CH₄ production were modeled as these correlations are currently unknown. If the correlations between production traits and CH₄ are positive (as expected) then it is very unlikely that CH₄ production would be used as a selection criterion as an implicit carbon price of over $400/tonne CO₂-e was needed to achieve the desired reductions in CH4 production. However, if the correlations are unexpectedly negative, the carbon price needed to achieve such gains was more likely at ~$30/tonne CO₂-e. The correlations need to be determined from research trials for informed advice about breeding for CH₄ reduction to be given to Merino breeders.
Link
Citation
Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.18, p. 516-519
ISSN
1328-3227
ISBN
9780646521039
Start page
516
End page
519

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