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Low-methane animals 
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<span class="h6">Is it possible to breed low methane emitting ruminants?</span><br />
We know that some animals are naturally lower emitters of greenhouse gases than others, and that this trait is heritable. We have not come across any systematic difference in performance for those animals. 
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We therefore think it&#39;s possible to breed low methane emitting yet highly productive ruminants. We can develop an index to allow breeders to select animals with lower methane emissions, by which we give farmers the choice to reduce their farm&#39;s absolute emissions and emissions intensity. 
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Our research programme will rank animals with measured emissions (those who&#39;ve already been participants in measurement trials), identify genomic markers and phenotypic traits, and use this to calculate their breeding value . <br />
The information gathered can be included in existing industry indices and made available to New Zealand&#39;s ruminant animal breeders. Farmers can select their new breeding animals based on this index knowing they are selecting a sustainable and productive animal. 
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<span class="h6">When will this solution be available to New Zealand farmers?</span><br />
Our target date that this approach is ready for commercialisation by 2016 for sheep, and by 2018 for cattle.
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<span class="h6">What are the likely emissions reductions and implications for farm productivity?<br />
</span>Currently measured high- and low-emitting animals differ by about 10%. More careful selection could expand this range, but commercial implementation could reduce it again - so, we&#39;re hoping for an emissions reduction of some 5-10% across the herd. So far, we have not come across any systematic differences in productivity of high and low-emitting animals. Making sure that there is no production penalty from naturally low-emitting animals is a key goal of this research programme.
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<span class="h6">Are there any known side-effects or risks to this approach?<br />
</span>Integrating emissions information into breeding indices means that as long as there is no production penalty, there should be no other side-effects and no change in farming practice would be required.
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<span class="h3">Low GHG forage</span><span class="h3">
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<span class="h6">Are there low greenhouse gas contributing feed options for ruminants?</span><br />
New Zealand has a wealth of pasture and feed options for ruminants. We want to find out which feed options can help reduce methane emissions and increase nitrogen utilisation efficiency to provide greater benefit in emissions intensity than by increased productivity alone. 
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We already know that brassicas reduce methane emissions significantly, if fed in isolation. Our research will look at the factors that result in lower methane emissions from these and other forages, find the desirable feed characteristics and practical mix of ingredients that are conducive to reduced methane emission and increased nitrogen utilisation efficiency.
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If we can understand the factors that result in lower methane emissions from forages, we can use predictive science to develop and breed new forages that could be even better at reducing emissions than existing ones. 
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Our results will be made available to plant breeders to allow selection of low methane/high nitrogen efficiency for farm use; and to system scientists for ongoing work on predicting impacts of management changes on carbon dioxide in different farm systems.
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<span class="h6">When will this solution be available to New Zealand farmers?</span><br />
Target date for uptake: late 2017
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<span class="h6">What are the likely implications for farm productivity?</span><br />
As most novel and additional feeds tend to have a higher nutritional value than grass, overall farm productivity could increase and enhance the resilience of farms to climate and price shocks, and we would expect this to be a major driver for uptake. However, we will test this through modelling and on-farm research to ensure that at a minimum, there is no productivity decline from such feeds.
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<span class="h6">Are there any known side-effects or risks to this approach?</span><br />
A key challenge is to ensure that a reduction in one gas (e.g. methane) does not result in increased emissions of another gas (e.g. nitrous oxide), increases nitrate leaching or reduces soil carbon. These questions are integral to research that tests the practical application of novel feeds.
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Vaccine solution 
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<span class="h6">Will it be possible to vaccinate to reduce methane emissions in ruminants?<br />
</span>We hope it&#39;s possible. We hope to develop a cost-effective vaccine that reduces ruminant methane emissions without reducing productivity. 
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Our research is a four stage process, after which we hope to have a successful commercialisation opportunity to get the vaccine out to farm. The first steps are to identify and select key antigens in a range of rumen methanogens, then use optimal adjuvants that can persist in the rumen and reduce the activity of ruminal methanogens to develop a prototype vaccine for testing. The research will also include background research to understand the impact of rumen fermentation on methane emissions, and the development of improved vaccine delivery systems and vaccination protocols. 
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If we manage all that we will be ready to engage a commercial partner to get the product to market and out for on farm use.
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<span class="h3">Ruminal methane inhibitors</span><span class="h3"> 
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<span class="h6">What are the inhibitors that reduce ruminant methane emissions?</span>
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We hope to find out. We hope to develop cost-effective inhibitors that reduce ruminant methane emissions without reducing productivity.
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Our research will fast track the screening of inhibitor options to help discover novel inhibitors. The lead compound discoveries will be tested in animal trials for efficacy and productivity effects. In parallel, we will continue background research to understand the impact of rumen fermentation on methane emissions. 
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We will share the data from the trials with a commercial partner to help us develop delivery mechanisms for delivering the inhibitors.
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