Queen's University Belfast researchers have joined a five-year international project aimed at reducing methane emissions from livestock. The initiative is coordinated through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, a partnership between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The project will focus on improving animal phenotyping, the measurement of physical and biological traits linked to productivity, health, and resilience. Researchers hope to identify characteristics that enable animals to remain productive under climate stress while reducing environmental impact.

The Queen's team will be led by Professor Sharon Huws, with Dr Katerina Theodoridou and Dr Kayley Barnes, from the Institute for Global Food Security and School of Biological Sciences. Their work will examine the relationship between livestock nutrition, the rumen microbiome, and methane production.

The rumen, the first stomach compartment in cattle and sheep, hosts microorganisms that break down plant fibres. This fermentation process releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Researchers will study how differences in microbial communities and diet influence methane output.

Professor Huws stated that animal production faces pressure from population growth, rising demand, and climate change effects such as heat, water scarcity, and disease. She said breeding animals with better resilience traits is essential for sustainable meat and milk production.

Dr Barnes explained that animals with high methane emissions have different microbial compositions than low emitters. Understanding these differences could inform breeding and feeding strategies.

The research is relevant to Northern Ireland, where cattle and sheep farming are economically important and greenhouse gas reduction is a challenge. Findings may contribute to more sustainable farming systems.