Master’s Sustainability Leadership Fellow Cohort: 2026

Department of Animal Sciences

Research Summary: Have you ever thought about how cows burp? I do – all the time! Cattle release methane through enteric fermentation, a unique digestive process that lets them turn low-quality feeds like grass, hay, and corn or human-inedible byproducts into nutrient-rich protein like milk and beef that supports human growth. But these same burps also emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG). My research explores how dietary strategies – what cattle eat and how their feed is managed could reduce methane emissions while maintaining animal health, productivity, and economic feasibility for producers, helping make livestock production more sustainable.