Beef & Sheep Research

Low carbon sheep for sustainable, circular farming.

SRUC's GreenSheep facilities and research supports local and international aims to lower the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions from small ruminants (sheep and goats) by improving knowledge and development of:

the genetic control of carbon dioxide and methane emissions;
the effects of breed, diet and parasite burden on emissions; and
proxy measures for methane emissions and interactions between rumen volume, rumen microbiome, and methane emissions.

GreenSheep Facilities

GreenSheep research is focused around twelve portable accumulation chambers (PACs) housed on a trailer that can be taken to sheep and goats to measure methane emissions after eating their usual diet, including grazing. The accumulation chambers allow researchers to quickly and accurately measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) that are emitted from an individual sheep over a defined period of time.

GreenSheep facilities also include a mobile CT scanner and portable feed intake recording equipment for sheep. These complimentary technologies collect additional data to relate to PAC-measured methane emissions and helps build a fuller mechanisms involved in reducing methane emissions from sheep.

GreenSheep Research

Two of the main GreenSheep projects underway are:

Breed For CH4nge: Breeding low methane sheep (2023-2026) is measuring 13,500 maternal-type sheep in 30 flocks across the UK for CO₂ and CH₄to build and develop the tools required to genetically reduce methane emissions and improve the efficiency of the national flock. The project will demonstrate the impact of low carbon sheep on whole farm carbon footprints. (InnovateUK-funded led by Innovis; UK only)
Sustain Sheep: Reducing sheep methane emissions – sustainability in practice via new breeding goals (2024- 2027) is building on the foundations of the Grass to Gas project to create the knowledge and infrastructure for the incorporation of genetic merit for low environmental impact into national breeding schemes for sheep and to provide a mechanism for global and national comparison. (International with 6 partners). More information about this project can be found in our bi-annual newsletters below.

October 2024

Newsletter 1: An introduction to the project

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First UK outing for portable chambers to measure sheep methane

High-tech portable chambers for measuring methane emissions from sheep are being used in the UK for the first time.

Net-zero Cabinet Secretary sees SRUC climate research in action

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition has been learning about some of the cutting-edge climate change research being carried out at SRUC.

SRUC joins new centre tackling food security and climate change

Scientists from SRUC will carry out research into plant breeding and animal nutrition to increase productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of a new centre announced by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Turning the Climate Tide: The Integral Role of Sustainable Livestock Practices

Given its significant contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, livestock farming finds itself in a critical role. Understanding these emissions’ biogenic nature and shorter atmospheric lifespan not only presents a challenge, but also outlines a pathway for effective mitigation efforts.

Hill & mountain research

GreenCow

SRUC's innovative and award-winning research programme that's making a fundamental contribution to our understanding of Greenhouse Gas production by livestock and is a key facility in international efforts to reduce the impact on climate change from emissions by ruminants.