An Iowa State University (ISU) researcher has been awarded over $412,000 to lead a four-year study on developing dietary protocols to reduce gas emissions from livestock operations.
USDA National Research Initiative funded the project. Goal is to set baseline emission rates for gases from three species.
“We will look at hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane and volatile organic compounds from growing swine, broiler chickens and lactating dairy cows,” says project director Wendy Powers. “The animals will be housed in laboratory facilities constructed specifically for this research at ISU.”
Work begins in July. Researchers will quantify typical industry diets, then modify them to reduce emissions.
The University of Maryland and the University of California-Davis are also participating in the study.