C-Lock Incorporated Principals Pat and Scott Zimmerman believe cattlemen will someday be able to determine feed efficiency and illness through measuring animals’ belches and breaths.
C-Lock has developed a system called GreenFeed, which is like a breathalyzer that measures methane and carbon dioxide output in cattle.
C-Lock has developed a system called GreenFeed, which is like a breathalyzer that measures methane and carbon dioxide output in cattle.
The GreenFeed machine uses a tone and light to draw an animal to pellet bait. Once its head is in the machine - it is recognized by its radio frequency identification ear tag. Each cow is tested three to five times a day for three to seven minutes each time.
If the RFID tag shows the animal has already visited, it doesn’t get fed and leaves the machine. Emissions from the mouth and nose are measured because they produce 92 to 95-percent of methane emissions from cattle.
The amount of methane produced indicates how much the animal ate and what’s going on in the rumen, showing the feed efficiency. GreenFeed can also notice when the amount of methane emissions drops, indicating a potential health problem before it’s actually visible.
The Zimmermans believe this can help breeders identify high residual feed intake animals and determine if feed quality changes over time. The system has been tested in the scientific market for a year in France and Australia and at Pennsylvania State University.
The Zimmermans believe this can help breeders identify high residual feed intake animals and determine if feed quality changes over time. The system has been tested in the scientific market for a year in France and Australia and at Pennsylvania State University.
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