Colorado State researchers explore genetic links to lower methane emissions in beef cattle

Researchers at Colorado State University are using innovative monitoring tools to identify cattle that emit less methane while maintaining productivity, aiming to turn sustainability into practical benefits for producers.

Researchers at Colorado State University are trying to pin down why some beef cattle emit less methane than others, while still converting feed efficiently. At AgNext, Dr. Sara Place and colleagues are pairing methane monitoring with feed intake and performance data in a bid to move sustainability from theory into something producers can use.

The work matters because older emissions estimates often relied on chamber-based studies that, while precise, kept cattle in artificial settings. AgNext is instead using tools such as C-Lock’s GreenFeed system, which lets animals visit voluntarily in a more normal environment. At the centre of the project is the Climate Smart Research Facility, where the team can monitor as many as 300 cattle at once with SmartFeed and GreenFeed units, and also gather data on pasture animals using trailer-mounted systems.

Place said the goal is to identify cattle that are “good outliers”: animals that grow, stay healthy and remain efficient while producing less methane. Early data suggest there can be around a 30% spread in emissions between animals on the same diet and under the same management.

Diet still matters. Cattle on grain-based finishing rations generally produce less methane than those on high-forage diets, and emissions can fall sharply when animals move from pasture to feedlot. But AgNext is also looking at longer-term options, particularly genetics, microbiome research and breeding decisions that could deliver lasting reductions without extra day-to-day cost.

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