As global research ramps up in the race to lower livestock methane emissions – including AI-led innovations in the US – Te Mania Angus is focused on practical, genetic solutions that can deliver long-term change for Australian cattle producers.
A recent Weekly Times article spotlighted the contrast between high-tech methane inhibitors and the grounded, data-driven approach being taken at our Merrang property in southwest Victoria.
Farm Manager Edward Gubbins shared how we’re using residual feed intake (RFI) monitoring to identify more efficient animals and bloodlines – laying the foundation for lower methane output across the herd.
“We’re aiming to breed more efficient cattle – and we think it’s a lot simpler and more scalable than AI,” he said.
In tandem, the team has introduced Allflex activity monitoring collars, tracking rumination patterns as a low-cost, accessible proxy for feed efficiency and gut function – critical components in methane production.
While we’re not measuring methane emissions directly yet, these tools are helping build towards a long-term goal: improving EBV accuracy and one day developing our own methane intensity index.
It’s a more natural fit for commercial beef production – and another step toward a more sustainable, profitable future.
Click to read the full article –Hexham farmers focus on genetics for methane, Texans use AI
