The methane-producing stomach content of cows and sheep will go under the microscope with a new scientific collaboration between New Zealand and Japan.
Japanese rumen microbiologist Dr Kiyoshi Tajima spent last week working with scientists at AgResearch's Grasslands campus outside Palmerston North.
AgResearch rumen microbiologist Dr Keith Joblin said the
joint research project would focus on the microbes found in the stomachs of sheep and cows.
The microbes produce methane, a significant contributor to New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists will use new DNA techniques to identify the type of methane-producing microbe present in animals on different diets.
The rumen is the first of four stomachs found in grazing animals in which bacteria and protozoa digest material by anaerobic fermentation.
Scientists will collect rumen contents from New Zealand dairy cows fed on grass and compare them with samples from Japanese cows fed on grain. Microbes of cows fed on a high-energy grain diet generally produce less methane compared with cows fed on forage material.
A New Zealand scientist will travel to the Japanese National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science in Tsukuba by the end of June as part of a developing scientific relationship.
"It's quite important for us. The Japanese connection will we hope be the first of several. It's highly promising," Joblin said.
The project would also provide an opportunity for scientists to share knowledge, compare techniques and exchange information on the molecular biology of microbes.
The project is one of six to receive a share of $1 million in Growth and Innovation Framework funding from the Aichi-Leverage Fund.
The fund was set up by the Government to support New Zealand's presence at the Aichi World Expo in Japan, running from March 25 until September 25. It is expected to attract at least 15 million visitors.
A group of Japanese students will visit AgResearch's Grasslands laboratory to observe the project as part of a Tourism New Zealand initiative.
The visiting students and Tajima will be filmed by a Japanese film crew as part of a documentary to be screened in Japan later this year.
