Cathie WallaceCornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has introduced cutting-edge, climate-controlled animal respiration stalls—the only ones of their kind currently operational in the U.S. These stalls will enable researchers to precisely measure and monitor methane and other gas emissions from cows, providing essential data to advance global agricultural sustainability and productivity.
These specially designed stalls, also known as chambers, resemble large barn stalls used for housing cows but are self-contained with climate control to ensure the animals’ health and comfort. Four of these high-tech chambers, supported by organizations like Cargill, Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, and Balchem Corporation, will be unveiled on April 18 at the Large Animal Research and Teaching Unit at Cornell University.
The $2 million project, funded by various stakeholders including the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Cornell’s Atkinson Center for Sustainability, represents a significant step toward reducing methane emissions—a potent greenhouse gas—from livestock. Livestock agriculture, particularly cow burps, accounts for roughly 40% of global methane emissions caused by human activity.
These respiration chambers are considered the gold standard for accurately measuring methane emissions from cows. Unlike other untested technologies, these chambers provide precise data on gas emissions, which is crucial for developing effective methane reduction strategies. The chambers are made of stainless steel with large doors and windows, ensuring the safety, nutrition, and comfort of the animals while monitoring their emissions in real-time.
Understanding gas exchange is vital for assessing cows’ overall energy use. Researchers measure the energy lost as methane during digestion to better understand and optimize diets and feed additives. This data is key to improving meat and milk production, animal health, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The chambers will also enhance Cornell’s nutritional modeling software, the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). This model, used to formulate diets for about 70% of lactating cows in North America and adopted in over 40 countries, will benefit from updated data reflecting modern cows’ nutrient requirements and production efficiencies.
In addition to methane monitoring, the chambers will help validate new wearable sensors that monitor cow biometrics, providing farmers with tools to optimize herd management and reduce methane emissions on a broader scale. Developing such individual sensors will be crucial for greenhouse gas accounting as carbon credit markets evolve, making accurate methane measurement increasingly important.
The unveiling of these chambers marks a milestone to create a more sustainable and productive agricultural system worldwide.
