The FFDS at a glance
The Belgian FFDS is hosted at the EV-ILVO Holstein Research Farm in Flanders and focuses on combining genomics and nutrition to reduce methane emissions from dairy cattle. It evaluates a methane-mitigation dietary strategy informed by the animals’ genetic makeup under on-farm conditions.
Animals are genotyped to identify cows with high and low methane emissions potential, tailored nutritional interventions are applied, and their effects are assessed throughout the demonstration.
-
Farm EV-ILVO Holstein Research Farm, Flanders
-
Breed Holstein
-
Production System Intensive
-
Scale Approximately 70–100 cows
Demonstration Focus
Genetic Screening
Identification of animals with high and low methane emissions potential using a panel of genetic markers.
Methane-Mitigation Diet
Evaluation of a dietary strategy recommended by the DST for reducing methane emissions.
Monitoring & Assessment
Utilisation of AI tools for nutritional interventions and herd performance monitoring. Methane emissions measurements throughout the demonstration for solutions’ validation.
Belgian FFDSs' Updates
Coming soon…