5 minutes with Dr Richard Spelman

| Dr Richard Spelman explains the project to Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor.

LIC Chief Scientist Richard Spelman on breeding cows that emit less methane.

What was the genesis of this project?

LIC undertook extensive work in measuring methane production in the early 2000s. This work was part of a gene discovery programme and through this we discovered that measuring methane on a large number of animals was very difficult. A visit from Harry Clark, Director at the NZ Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium, reignited interest in how we could improve methane efficiency in dairy cattle. Working with CRV, we travelled the world and looked at how other countries were undertaking methane measurement in dairy cattle. We are now doing this work.

Given its potential, how special is this work for you?

Greenhouse gas mitigation is very important to the dairy industry now and in the future, especially biogenic methane. Right now a lot of the discussion is around reducing numbers of cows whereas this project gives us the opportunity to identify animals that emit less methane per kg dry matter that they eat – thus having the ability to farm more methane-efficient cows and ensuring we continue to produce dairy food for the world.

Were there any particular challenges in designing and setting up the pilot?

One of the most significant challenges in the pilot was doing this through the first COVID lockdown. We had issues with getting machines and feed into the country and there was also an impact on being able to do the research at our research farm as it was due to start when we went into Level 4 lockdown.

Now there will be a much larger study – what progress has been made?

The larger study commenced in 2021, a year after the pilot study. LIC undertook measurements over 120 bulls in April,

One of the benefits of genetic improvement is that it’s permanent and cumulative.”

May and June where we measured methane output and how much feed the bulls had eaten. Similar work commenced in September at CRV – they are measuring a similar number of bulls over the next month or two. We will continue to do this work over the next 2-3 years and we will calculate breeding values for methane output and from that identify which bulls are the most and least methane efficient. We will then generate daughters from the most and least methane-efficient bulls and test that what we are seeing in a growing young bull is the same as a lactating cow. This will be the proof as to whether the work we are undertaking now will have a positive impact for the NZ dairy industry.

Is the cooperation shown between LIC and CRV on this project typical of agricultural research?

This project is a significant industry and NZ challenge and both organisations realise that working together on this is the most effective way to bring a solution to NZ dairy farmers. Although LIC and CRV are fierce competitors in the marketplace, we have on a number of occasions collaborated on research and I am sure that will continue in the future.

A sceptic might say this will do too little to make a real difference – how would you respond?

We have seen in other species that there is genetic variation for methane, and we are confident that we will see that in dairy cattle as well. One of the benefits of genetic improvement is that it’s permanent and cumulative. So genetics may have a small effect now but with permanent and cumulative improvement we hope that by 2050 the genetic approach could reduce biogenic methane in a meaningful way for farmers. One of the nice things of a genetic approach is that famers don’t need to change anything in their farm management system, they just need to use artificial breeding to mate their cows as they do currently. Genetics will hopefully be one of many tools that farmers will have in the future to reduce methane.

What’s your favourite way to spend the day? What do you do for time out?

At work it is thinking and strategising about how to generate future science and business opportunities. Away from work, I spend a lot of time in the outdoors. I am a very keen endurance adventure racer. I like to get out into the hills walking, running and mountain biking. I also enjoy getting out on the river in my kayak as well.

Is there a book, author, or speaker you have found particularly helpful in your life or career?

There is no one book or speaker, but I do love to read and listen to people who have succeeded whether through sport, business or other endeavours. It is inspiring to read and hear their stories of how they put the hard work in, their challenges and how they succeeded.

If you could give people one piece of advice, what would it be?

Keep learning, look ahead, see what the challenges are and think/dream of ways to overcome them and thus generate opportunities for the future.