Researchers from the University of California at Davis and the Innovative Genomics Institute are conducting a multiyear experiment to alter the digestive processes within cow stomachs.
Cows, which are widely consumed around the world, generate significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to 30% of global warming.
The team is using CRISPR technology to genetically modify microbes in the cows’ stomachs with the goal of reducing or eliminating these methane emissions.
“It’s completely out of the box,” said Ermias Kebreab, a professor of animal science at UC-Davis. “Nobody has done it before.”
Potential solutions from pasta ingredients?
On average, a cow emits approximately 220 pounds of methane annually, which is about half the emissions produced by a typical car. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization , cows are responsible for around 4% of global warming.
If the researchers’ efforts are successful, they could potentially eliminate the largest human-made source of methane and significantly impact global warming trends.
While adding substances like seaweed, oregano, or garlic to cow diets can reduce methane emissions by up to 80% , this approach is only feasible for about 10% of cattle in the United States—mainly dairy cows that are fed daily.
The same situation applies globally. The remaining cattle, primarily beef cattle, graze on pastures and feed on grass and forage. Implementing such dietary changes for these billions of free-range cattle would be logistically challenging.
Probiotic pills to the rescue
Methane emissions from cow burps originate from gas-producing microbes in the cows’ digestive systems. By genetically engineering these microbes to produce less methane, researchers aim to reduce emissions before they are expelled.
“We’re trying to come up with a solution to reduce methane that is easily accessible and inexpensive, without restrictions or limitations, and that can be made available not only to California but globally,” said Matthias Hess , a professor of animal science at UC-Davis.
The scientists envision creating a type of probiotic pill that could be administered to cows at birth, potentially altering their microbiome permanently. This approach builds on previous successes with gene editing, such as breeding cattle without horns or with heat-resistant slick coats.
Unlike those efforts, this project targets the microbiome itself, offering a potential solution that could be applied across different cow breeds.
Challenges and the road ahead
A probiotic pill designed to reduce methane emissions from cows could also boost farm productivity. Cows lose up to 12% of their energy through methane burps, and other ruminants like sheep and goats experience similar losses.
Initial trials of this probiotic will be conducted at UC Davis, where researchers will monitor methane emissions by tracking the cows’ burps to assess the effectiveness of the treatment.
However, there are challenges ahead. While scientists have demonstrated the ability to gene-edit microbes, they have only been able to modify a small portion of microbes in the cow’s gut so far. Researchers are still developing microbial gene-editing tools and mapping the microbiome species, effectively building their methods as they advance.
Despite these concerns, the potential benefits of microbial editing are compelling. Methane is produced not only by cows but also by goats, sheep, and even natural sources like Arctic permafrost and temperate wetlands. Insights gained from this research could lead to interventions for other animals and ecosystems, according to the researchers .
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