IoT wearable device for estimating methane emissions in animal livestock systems

Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. One of the major sources of methane emissions is the livestock sector, especially cattle, which produces methane through their digestive processes. Cattle burps account for about 95% of the methane they emit, and this methane is more than 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in its first two decades in the atmosphere.To reduce the environmental impact of cattle farming, it is important to measure and monitor the methane emissions from cows¿ burps. However, this is not an easy task, as the emissions are diffuse, variable, and influenced by many factors, such as diet, breed, health, and weather. Traditional methods of measuring methane emissions from cattle, such as using chambers are often invasive, expensive, or impractical.New technologies have emerged to estimate the methane emissions from cows¿ burps more accurately, efficiently, and non-invasively. Some of these technologies include:¿ Satellite imagery: Using high-resolution satellites, GHGSat Inc. was able to detect the methane plumes from a cattle feedlot in California for the first time, showing the range and intensity of the emissions.¿ Machine learning and IoT: Researchers from the University of Bristol are developing a machine learning system that can analyze the sounds of cows¿ moos and burps and correlate them with their methane output.¿ Genetic selection: Scientists from Synomics have used a combination of genomic and metagenomic data to identify the genetic and microbial factors that influence the methane emissions from dairy cows, and to select the low-emitting animals for breeding.