Cornell University unveils special chambers to measure methane emissions
ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM) — Cornell University on Monday announced the addition of special animal respirator chambers designed to study methane and other gas emissions from cows.
According to the release, the new climate-controlled animal respiration stalls are the only of their kind in the U.S. and will go towards improving the sustainability and productivity of farms around the world.
The large barn stalls will be used to house cows and are contained as a single unit with climate control to support the health and welfare of the animals.
These chambers will be used to monitor methane emissions from the cows, with Josepth Mcfadden, associate professor of dairy cattle biology, saying these chambers are the gold standard in methane emissions monitoring.
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“There are a lot of untested methane mitigation and monitoring technologies out there,” said Mcfadden, “But the only way you can provide absolute quantification of gas emissions is by using a respiration chamber system,” he said.
The release states that the chambers monitor oxygen consumption and methane, CO2, and hydrogen emissions in real time, taking measurements every two to 10 minutes.
The monitoring of the gases is key to monitoring energy use in the cows. With the data taken from the studies, researchers can see how effective different diets and feed additives are in optimizing meat and milk production and animal health and minimizing greenhouse gases and nutrient waste.
The chambers will be used in more ways than one by improving Cornell’s nutritional modeling software, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). The university said that CNSPS is used to formulate diets for around 70% of lactating cows in North America and has been used in more than 40 countries.
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