System and method for monitoring emissions from livestock

Abstract

An emission measurement system for measuring emissions from animals is provided, the emission measurement system including a fixed device in fluid communication with an air handling unit, wherein the air handling unit includes a blower and a first emission sensor.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application is a PCT and claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional Application No. 18 / 941,396, filed November 8, 2024, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING EMISSIONS FROM LIVESTOCK.” That '396 application claims priority and interest to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 548,351, filed November 13, 2023, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING EMISSIONS FROM LIVESTOCK.” Each application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to systems and methods for monitoring emissions from livestock. Background Technology

[0004] Metabolic gas emissions from cattle and other ruminants can provide important information related to animal health, feed efficiency, and metabolic status. Metabolic gases such as carbon dioxide and methane have been found to be associated with feed intake. Furthermore, significant amounts of methane are produced during the digestive process in ruminants. Methane is primarily expelled from the animal's mouth and nose every 40 to 60 seconds, similar to a human burp. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change, and therefore, cattle and other ruminants are significant sources of global greenhouse gas emissions. The focus is on using various management strategies to reduce methane emissions. In addition, other gases such as carbon dioxide may be highly correlated with animal feed intake and can therefore be used as proxies for feed intake.

[0005] Breeding and genetic improvement are key strategies for producing animals that are more feed-efficient and emit less methane. This uses measurement methods to determine the amount of feed consumed by individual animals and the amount of methane they emit in order to identify the animals with the highest feed efficiency and lowest methane emissions. Determining which genes affect emissions requires measurements on a large number of animals, sometimes thousands.

[0006] Metabolic gas measurement technologies facilitate the development and testing of supplements and drugs that reduce methane emissions and improve ruminant efficiency. Furthermore, once mitigation strategies are implemented—whether reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants or improving feed efficiency—rapid measurements within a farm setting are necessary to determine their effectiveness. If carbon credits are generated for specific mitigation practices, regular audits will be required. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In various embodiments, an emission measurement system is provided, the emission measurement system including a stationary device in fluid communication with an air handling unit, wherein the air handling unit includes a blower and a first emission sensor.

[0008] In various embodiments, a method is provided, comprising: securing a restraint device at least partially around the mouth and nose of a ruminant; generating an airflow through the restraint device and into a pipe; receiving the airflow at an air handling unit; and measuring at least one of a methane concentration or a carbon dioxide concentration in the airflow.

[0009] In various embodiments, an emission measurement system is provided, the emission measurement system including a fixing device including a mounting feature configured to engage with a nose clip, wherein the fixing device is configured to at least partially surround the snout of an animal and at least partially define an air gap between the fixing device and the snout.

[0010] This disclosure may include any one or more of the features disclosed above and / or below, individually or in any combination thereof. Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, the foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity. The operation of these features and elements, and the disclosed embodiments, will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The subject matter of this disclosure is specifically pointed out and explicitly claimed in the concluding section of the specification. However, a more complete understanding of this disclosure can be best obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements.

[0012] Figure 1 A system for measuring livestock emissions according to various embodiments is shown.

[0013] Figure 2 A system for measuring livestock emissions according to various embodiments is shown.

[0014] Figure 3 A nose clip according to various embodiments is shown.

[0015] Figure 4 Cross-sections of nose clips and fixation devices according to various embodiments are shown.

[0016] Figure 5 Nose clips according to various embodiments are shown.

[0017] Figure 6Carbon dioxide emissions over time are shown according to various implementation methods.

[0018] Figure 7 The diagram shows methane emissions over time according to various implementation methods. Detailed Implementation

[0019] This document provides a detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the embodiments by way of illustration. While these embodiments have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice this disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be implemented and logical, chemical, and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the detailed description herein is given for illustrative purposes only and not for limiting purposes. For example, any reference to the singular includes the plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a single embodiment or step. Additionally, any reference to attaching, fixing, connecting, etc., may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, complete, and / or any other possible attachment option. Furthermore, any step in the methods discussed herein may be performed in any suitable order or combination. Additionally, any reference to non-contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. It should also be understood that, unless specifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” or “the” may include one or more, and references to a singular item may include the plural item.

[0020] Furthermore, all ranges may include upper and lower limits, and all ranges and ratio limits disclosed herein may be combined.

[0021] As mentioned above, animals, particularly bovines, are generally unsuitable for having devices placed on or tightly around their snouts. First, bovines may become stressed or agitated, which is unhealthy for them and / or dangerous for animal handlers. Training each bovine to be measured is time-consuming, expensive, and not always successful for every animal. Second, if airflow is insufficient, a mask tightly attached to a bovine may pose a risk of suffocation. These two obstacles often hinder rapid and easy measurement of emissions from large numbers of animals. It should be noted that while various embodiments are particularly suitable for ruminants such as bovines, the various embodiments of this disclosure are also applicable to pigs, sheep, goats, and other livestock.

[0022] In various embodiments, an emissions measurement system is provided. In various embodiments, the emissions measurement system can rapidly and quantitatively measure the mass flux of metabolic gases from cattle, including emissions of methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen uptake, as well as the mass flux of other emissions. In various embodiments, a high airflow rate is used to allow for a loose restraint device that draws in ambient air around the animal's mouth and / or nose and / or mucostomy area. By using a high airflow rate, the risk of suffocation is at least reduced or eliminated (one of these). Furthermore, the loose restraint device is generally readily accepted by the animal without the need for training or other preparation. Additionally, by using a high airflow rate, the time required to generate usable data is reduced, resulting in a shorter sampling time per animal. In various embodiments, attachment to the animal via a nose ring simplifies attachment and is more tolerable / comfortable for the animal compared to the use of straps.

[0023] Reference Figure 1 An emissions measurement system 100 is disclosed. A fixture 104 is shown attached to an animal (here, a bovine) 102. The fixture 104 is in fluid communication with an air handling unit 122 via a pipe 106. The air handling unit 122 is in fluid communication with a duct 112 having an exhaust port 116. A fan 118 (also referred to as a blower 118) is disposed in and in fluid communication with the duct 112. An airflow meter 114 is at least partially disposed in and in fluid communication with the duct 112.

[0024] The restraint device 104 includes structures configured to fit around the nostrils and mouth (also collectively referred to as the snout) of an animal such as bovine 102. The restraint device 104 may include any suitablely constructed rigid or semi-rigid structure. In various embodiments, the restraint device 104 includes a cylindrical structure having a base and an opening to at least partially fit around the snout of the animal. The restraint device 104 may include at least one of rigid plastic, metal, or composite material (e.g., carbon fiber, glass fiber, galolit (i.e., G10 composite material)). Where the restraint device 104 includes a rigid structure, the restraint device 104 may include an opening (orifice) to be placed above the snout, thereby forming an air gap between the snout and the restraint device 104. In various embodiments, the restraint device 104 is constructed from textile materials such as nylon, ballistic nylon, polyester, carbon fiber, cotton, linen, polycarbonate, thermoplastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, and other suitable textiles. In embodiments where the restraint 104 is made of textiles, in various embodiments, a rigid member can support the restraint 104 in the area around the animal's mouth and nose. In this regard, a hoop, such as a collapsible hoop or other structure, can rigidly support the textile. In such embodiments, the hoop or other rigid member can create an air gap around the animal's mouth and nose.

[0025] In various embodiments, the air gap of the fixation device 104 surrounding the mouth and nose of the animal 102 allows ambient air to be in fluid communication with the interior of the fixation device 104.

[0026] The fixation device 104 includes a mounting feature configured to engage with a nose clip. The mounting feature may be located on the base of the fixation device 104. The mounting feature may include a clip, fastener, male or female threaded connector, hook, nylon strap, hook, or other suitable connector. The mounting feature allows for removable engagement of the fixation device 104. The nose clip may be adapted to fit into the nostrils and / or nasal cavity of an animal's mouth and nose while engaging with the fixation device 104. In this respect, the nose clip can be used to hold the fixation device to the animal's mouth and nose without causing pain or discomfort to the animal, as further described below.

[0027] The base of the fixing device 104 may include an orifice or other channel. In this respect, the fixing device 104 is positioned in fluid communication with the pipe 106. The pipe 106 may be a conduit of any suitable diameter. The pipe 106 may be connected to the fixing device 104 in an airtight or substantially airtight manner. Therefore, little or no air can escape from the fixing device 104, which is connected to the pipe 106.

[0028] Air handling unit 122 is in fluid communication with stationary unit 104 via conduit 106. Air handling unit 122 receives airflow from conduit 106 and has at least one or more emission sensors at least partially disposed in the airflow. The emission sensors can be configured to measure the concentration of emissions in the airflow, such as the concentration of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane, organic compounds, oxygen, and any other substances in gaseous or vapor form emitted from the mouth and nose of an animal. In various embodiments, the emission sensors can detect the presence of various organic and inorganic compounds emitted from the mouth and nose of an animal. For example, the detection of ammonia and / or acetone in the emission stream from an animal can be useful in assessing emission output and addressing animal health. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the emission sensors can be configured to detect markers indicating infectious diseases, such as the presence of bacteria, fungi, or viruses. In this regard, the emission sensors can be configured to detect viral, bacterial, or fungal DNA, RNA, and / or proteins and / or fragments thereof.

[0029] Emission sensors for methane and carbon dioxide can be used to measure emissions using nondispersive infrared, tunable diode lasers, or electrochemical sensors, while hydrogen can be measured using electrochemical sensors, and oxygen concentration can be measured using paramagnetic, electrochemical, or luminescent sensors. Nondispersive infrared sensors and tunable diodes can be configured as emission sensors for detecting acetone. The concentrations of various volatile organic compounds can be measured using photoionization detectors, flame ionization detectors, and metal oxide semiconductor sensors.

[0030] A portion of the airflow can be continuously or periodically extracted from the airflow and directed to a concentration sensor, or, in various embodiments, the sensor can be located within the airflow itself. In various embodiments, a portion of the emission stream can be directed to various emission sensors for measurement at periodic intervals. However, in various embodiments, the emission sensor is at least partially located within the emission stream. Both periodic and continuous sampling can be used simultaneously. For example, methane can be measured directly from the emission stream while periodic subsamples can be collected for detecting biological infectious agents. In various embodiments, the emission sensor records high-resolution data per second or multiple times per second, allowing the air handling unit 122 to record peak methane and carbon dioxide concentrations, as well as other data, from each belch (approximately every 40 to 60 seconds) and exhaled air.

[0031] The air handling unit 122 also includes a processor 150 and may include an airflow meter 114. In various embodiments, the airflow meter 114 is disposed on the duct 112 and communicates electronically and / or logically with the air handling unit 122, specifically with the processor 150 of the airflow handling unit 114. The airflow meter 114 may include a hot-film or hot-wire anemometer or a differential pressure sensor to accurately measure airflow. The airflow rate from the airflow meter 114 may be transmitted to the processor 150 of the air handling unit 122.

[0032] Blower 118 includes means for moving air through air handling unit 122, duct 106, and fixture 104. Blower 118 may include any suitable means, including a fan and / or impeller driven by a motor (e.g., a brushless DC motor), to cause airflow through duct 112. Blower 118 is capable of achieving high flow rates. In various embodiments, blower 118 can produce airflow rates between 150 L / min and 2500 L / min, 200 L / min and 2000 L / min, 250 L / min and 1000 L / min, 250 L / min and / or 1800 L / min. By using high flow rates (above 250 L / min), combined with the air gap formed between fixture 104 and the animal's mouth and nose, the airflow around the animal's mouth and nose will be sufficient for the animal's respiration (breathing) while simultaneously capturing gaseous emissions. Therefore, the high flow rate reduces or eliminates the risk of suffocation, while allowing for a looser restraint 104 that minimizes or eliminates the need for training animals to use the restraint 104. In contrast, airtight masks or other devices attached to the animal's mouth and nose must be closely monitored, as electrical failures or other equipment malfunctions can cause animal suffocation unless swift action is taken. In various embodiments, the air gap created between the restraint 104 and the animal's mouth and nose allows the animal to continue breathing safely in the event of equipment failure, malfunction, or power outage.

[0033] The mass flux rate of metabolic gases at any given moment can be determined by multiplying the flow rate by the increase or decrease in the concentration of each gas relative to its background and converting the gas volume to gas mass using the ideal gas law. To calculate the average flux over the total time for each animal measurement, the flow rates of all gases are averaged, for example, over 3 to 7 minutes per animal. This means that the system according to this disclosure can be used to sample a large number of animals in a given day, providing researchers with a sufficiently large sample size that can be useful for research and administrative purposes.

[0034] In various implementations, an acceleration or head sensor (e.g., reference) Figure 4An accelerometer 410 can be used in the emissions measurement system 100 to generate head movement data to determine whether the animal shakes its head and / or the frequency at which the animal shakes its head, potentially leading to sample loss. The accelerometer 410 can communicate electronically with the processor 150, either via a direct wired connection or via a wireless protocol. The accelerometer 410 can transmit the head movement data to the processor 150, which can then filter out periods when the animal is not stationary or substantially stationary. In various embodiments, the processor 150 can forward the raw head movement data to a cloud computing infrastructure 152, where the cloud computing infrastructure 152 can perform filtering. In this way, metadata related to identifying head movement and associated emissions data collected during head movement can be identified, allowing the associated emissions data to be filtered through the cloud computing infrastructure 152 (where such filtering is appropriate).

[0035] Additional sensor 412 can be coupled to fixture 104 at any suitable location. Additional sensor 412 may include one or more sensors that communicate electronically with processor 150. Additional sensor 412 may include an infrared temperature sensor, a microphone, and a thermometer. In an embodiment where additional sensor 412 includes an infrared temperature sensor, the infrared temperature sensor can be used to measure the animal's eye temperature, and the measurement result is transmitted to processor 150 and / or cloud computing infrastructure 152. The eye temperature can then be correlated with the animal's internal body temperature. In an embodiment where additional sensor 412 includes a microphone, audio can be captured and transmitted to processor 150 and / or cloud computing infrastructure 152 for storage and / or analysis. The audio can be evaluated for the presence of panting or other health indicators. In an embodiment where additional sensor 412 includes a thermometer, the temperature of gaseous emissions and / or ambient temperature can be measured and recorded by processor 150 and / or cloud computing infrastructure 152.

[0036] In various embodiments, the emissions measurement system 100 may include an electronic radio frequency identification (RFID) system to automatically identify and record animals with electronic tags. In this regard, the processor 150 may be configured to receive animal identification data associated with the animal from the RFID system. RFID tags may also be placed in the fixture 104. In this way, a user can identify and record RFID tags associated with the animal and RFID tags associated with the fixture at similar times or at the same time. The RFID tag data associated with the animal and the RFID tag data associated with the emissions measurement system 100 can be automatically linked. When multiple emissions measurement systems 100 are used, the user can then subsequently reference data from a specific animal to data from a specific emissions measurement system 100.

[0037] In various implementations, the emissions measurement system 100, and in particular the processor 150, communicates with a cellular phone network, cloud computing infrastructure 152, or computer application, enabling the input of emissions measurement results and / or other relevant data about the animals (i.e., metadata related to emissions data), including but not limited to farm identification number, animal weight, breed, milk production data, measurement location, age, and / or dietary data.

[0038] In various implementations, the emissions measurement system 100 includes a method for wirelessly transmitting data to a cloud computing infrastructure 152 for further remote analysis. For example, the emissions measurement system 100 may use an Ethernet cable, a wireless communication protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, NFC, TCP / IP, Wi-Fi, etc.), or a cellular modem to transmit data to the cloud computing infrastructure 152. The cloud computing infrastructure 152 may store emissions data and associated metadata and may provide data analysis to generate actionable data for herd management, herd healthcare, emissions management, and other purposes to promote the health and safety of the measured animals and improve operational efficiency.

[0039] In various embodiments, the air handling unit 122 may house the blower 118 and the airflow meter 114, thereby improving portability.

[0040] Reference Figure 2 Animal 102 is held in a squeeze chute 202. In various embodiments, a headlock, such as those frequently used in dairy operations, may be used instead of the squeeze chute 202. The restraint device 104 is located via a nose clip 300 (see also...). Figure 3 The sample is fixed to the mouth and nose of animal 102. An air handling unit 122, including a blower 118, generates a high airflow rate through pipe 106. After a sampling period of several minutes (3 to 10 minutes), sufficient data is collected, and the next animal can be sampled.

[0041] Reference Figure 3 The nose clip 300 is shown. The nose clip 300 includes a connecting fitting 306. The connecting fitting 306 is shown as a ring, but may also include a hook, threaded connector, hook, clasp, and / or other suitable structure for removable attachment to the fixing device 104. A shaft 304 connects the connecting fitting 306 to arcuate portions 302a and 302b. The arcuate portions 302a and 302b include smooth surfaces for insertion into the animal's nostrils and / or nasal cavity, thereby providing comfortable and painless support for the fixing device 104.

[0042] Reference Figure 4The nose clip 300 is shown attached to the securing device 104. A connecting fitting 306 is attached to a mounting feature 406. Mounting feature 406 may include hooks, nylon straps, threaded couplings, hooks, buckles, and / or other suitable structures for removable attachment to the nose clip 300. In various embodiments, mounting feature 406 may include a clamping assembly in which a rope can be pulled through a ratchet mechanism (e.g., a ratchet and pawl mechanism) to tighten the securing device 104 around the animal's snout. A button within the securing device 104 may be configured to release tension from the rope, thereby releasing the rope from the clamping assembly and allowing removal of the securing device 104. In this respect, mounting feature 406 and connecting fitting 306 cooperate to provide retention of the securing device 104 to the animal's snout via the nose clip 300.

[0043] Reference Figure 5 The diagram illustrates system 500. In system 500, a fixing device 104 is not required because an air passage is provided directly via a nose clip 510. The nose clip 510 has arcuate portions 504 and 502 for fixing to the nostrils and / or nasal cavities of an animal. The nose clip 510 also includes air passages 506a and 506b. Air passages 506a and 506b may be embedded within the arcuate portions 504 and 502 such that the arcuate portions 504 and 502 include orifices that allow air to be collected from the nostrils and / or nasal cavities of the animal through the air passages 506a and 506b; however, in various embodiments, air passages 506a and 506b may include tubes fixed to the exterior of the arcuate portions 504 and 502. An air handling device 122 is fluidly coupled to the air passages 506a and 506b and thus allows airflow to occur within the nose clip 510 to entrain gases escaping from the nostrils and / or nasal cavities of the animal, as well as entrained ambient air. In system 500, given the relatively small cross-sections of the arcuate portions 502 and 504, it may not be possible to generate sufficient airflow to determine the flux. The air handling unit 122 of system 500 can determine only the concentration measurement of the emissions. In this respect, system 500 allows for even more compact solutions that enable ease of use and even higher animal acceptance rates. It should be understood that the emissions captured in system 500 include both tidal respiration (i.e., air typically exhaled from the lungs) and belching (i.e., gaseous emissions from the animal's intestines).

[0044] Figure 6 The sample of carbon dioxide output over time is shown, and Figure 7The methane output samples are shown as varying over time. The outputs demonstrate the periodic emission of these gases in the overall respiration of the animals. Reliable sampling of emissions from a large number of animals is possible by acquiring high-resolution samples (i.e., multiple measurements over a short period of time, e.g., 1 to 10 measurements per second). High-resolution sampling also allows the data to show each belch. In this respect, the number of belches per minute or hour for each animal can be determined. Furthermore, due to the short measurement time, multiple measurements can be taken from animals daily to capture the effects of feeding schedules, circadian rhythms, and other factors that influence emissions throughout the day.

[0045] Sampling can be repeated over time (e.g., daily, weekly, or monthly) to determine trends and changes in emissions over time. Increasing the sample size will reduce uncertainty when averaging over larger sample sizes. Systems according to this disclosure can be used to measure the mass flow rate of animal emissions caused by changes in diet, intake, or dietary supplements. Therefore, such systems can be used as a rapid and simple method for determining emission inventories, auditing the effects of supplements, or measuring animal emission phenotypes.

[0046] Air handling unit 122 can handle, for example, Figure 6 and Figure 7 The measurement data shown is transmitted to cloud computing infrastructure 152, or such data is stored locally for later upload to cloud computing infrastructure 152. The cloud computing infrastructure can then collect, store, and analyze emissions data across one or more facilities and herds, thereby enabling the quantification of an organization's emissions and revealing how changes in herd management techniques affect overall emissions.

[0047] Benefits and other advantages have been described herein with reference to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures included herein are intended to indicate exemplary functional relationships and / or physical connections between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may exist in a real system. However, any benefit, advantage, solution to a problem, and any element that may bring about or make more apparent any benefit, advantage, or solution should not be construed as a critical, essential, or necessary feature or element of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited in any way other than by the appended claims, in which references to singular elements in the appended claims are not intended to mean "one and only one," but rather "one or more," unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, where phrases such as "at least one of A, B, or C" are used in the claims, such phrases are intended to be interpreted as meaning that only A may be present in an embodiment, only B may be present in an embodiment, only C may be present in an embodiment, or any combination of elements A, B, and C may be present in a single embodiment, for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.

[0048] Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to "one embodiment," "embodiment," "exemplary embodiment," etc., indicate that the described embodiment may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic; however, each embodiment may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is assumed that, whether explicitly described or not, its influence in conjunction with other embodiments on such feature, structure, or characteristic is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement this disclosure in alternative embodiments.

[0049] Furthermore, regardless of whether an element, component, or method step in this disclosure is expressly stated in the claims, such element, component, or method step is not intended to be exclusive to the public. No claim element herein is intended to invoke 35 U.SC112(f) unless the element is expressly stated using the phrase “apparatus for…”. As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements may include not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus.

Claims

1. An emissions measurement system, comprising: The fixing device is in fluid communication with the air handling unit; The air handling unit includes a blower and a first emission sensor.

2. The emission measurement system according to claim 1, wherein, The air blower is capable of producing an airflow of at least 250 L / min.

3. The emission measurement system according to claim 2, wherein, The first emission sensor senses the concentration of methane in the gas stream.

4. The emission measurement system according to claim 3, wherein, The fixing device includes a mounting feature configured to attach to a nose clip.

5. The emission measurement system according to claim 4, wherein, The mounting device includes an orifice in fluid communication with a pipe, which is in fluid communication with the air treatment device and the first emission sensor.

6. The emission measurement system according to claim 5, wherein, The air handling device includes a second emission sensor, wherein the second emission sensor senses the concentration of carbon dioxide in the airflow.

7. The emission measurement system according to claim 6, wherein, The air handling device includes an air filter disposed in the airflow and an airflow meter disposed in the airflow.

8. The emission measurement system according to claim 7, wherein, The air handling unit includes a processor that communicates electronically with the first emission sensor, the second emission sensor, and the blower.

9. The emission measurement system according to claim 8, wherein, The processor is configured to receive the methane concentration of the gas stream from the first emission sensor and perform at least one of the following operations: storing the methane concentration in local memory or transmitting the methane concentration to a cloud computing system.

10. The emission measurement system according to claim 9, wherein, The processor is configured to receive carbon dioxide concentration from the second emission sensor and perform at least one of the following operations: storing the carbon dioxide concentration in the local memory or transmitting the carbon dioxide concentration to the cloud computing system.

11. The emission measurement system according to claim 7, wherein, The fixing device includes a cylindrical structure having a base with an opening for connection to the tube.

12. The emission measurement system according to claim 11, wherein, The restraint is configured to at least partially surround the muzzle of the ruminant.

13. The emission measurement system according to claim 12, wherein, In response to the fixing device being fixed to the snout of the ruminant, an air gap is formed at least partially around the snout.

14. The emission measurement system according to claim 13, wherein, In response to the fixing device being fixed to the snout of the ruminant, an air gap is formed at least partially around the snout.

15. The emission measurement system according to claim 14, wherein, The fastening device includes at least one of rigid plastic or textile.

16. The emission measurement system of claim 8, further comprising at least one of a head movement sensor or an accelerometer for collecting head movement data, wherein, The processor is configured to recognize head movement data.

17. The emission measurement system according to claim 16, wherein, The processor is configured to receive an electronic animal identifier for identifying the animal using an electronic tag, wherein the processor is configured to communicate electronically with a second processor configured to receive metadata including the animal identifier and biological parameters, and wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly transmit the data to a cloud computing infrastructure.

18. A method comprising: The restraint device shall be at least partially secured around the mouth and nose of the ruminant; An airflow is generated that passes through the fixing device and enters the pipe; The airflow is received at the air handling unit; Measure at least one of the methane concentration or carbon dioxide concentration in the gas stream.

19. A nose clip comprising a first curved portion and a second curved portion, the first curved portion being pivotally connected to the second curved portion; the first curved portion having a first tube connected to the first curved portion, and the second curved portion having a second tube connected to the second curved portion.

20. The nose clip according to claim 19, wherein, The first pipe and the second pipe are fluidly connected.

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