International Recognition for AFBI’s Research on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dr Tianhai Yan, from the Agriculture Branch of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), has been notified by the prestigious Amercian Journal of Dairy Science that his paper on the measurement of methane emissions from dairy cows, is one of the 100 most highly cited papers published in the journal since the beginning of 2012.

The Journal of Dairy Science, the official journal of the American Association of Dairy Science, is one of the most highly rated international scientific journals in the field of dairy science. This accolade is recognition of the high quality of the research carried out by Dr Yan and colleagues at AFBI Hillsborough, and means that it is being quoted by a large number of researchers throughout the world.
Dr Yan’s study was part of a Stimulus project, co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Republic of Ireland and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. This is the second paper by Dr Yan to achieve such recognition with both studies having used the facilities at AFBI Hillsborough for research on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from livestock. Previous research by AFBI scientists and economists has demonstrated that Northern Ireland agriculture has one of the lowest footprints for the intensity of GHG emissions from livestock of any European region or country. However, it is important to further reduce these levels, given the targets for GHG reduction set by both the European Commission and the UK Government. .AFBI’s research has demonstrated the potential to reduce GHG emissions from livestock through improvements in the efficiency of animal production and this research is making a major contribution to improving our understanding of factors influencing methane (an important GHG) emissions from cattle and sheep.
This degree of peer recognition is very valuable as it identifies AFBI as a world leader in this area of science.
The reference for the paper is: Munoz, C, Yan, T, Wills, DA, Murray, S, Gordon, AW. (2012). Comparison of the sulfur hexafluoride tracer and respiration chamber techniques for estimating methane emissions and correction for rectum methane output from dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2012; 95: 3139-48. doi: 10.3168/jds.2011-4298 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22612950).
 

Notes to editors: 

AFBI carries out high quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DARD and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies. 
AFBI's Vision is “Scientific excellence in Northern Ireland … serving the world”.
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