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Strategies Used to Reduce Methane Emissions from Ruminants: Controversies and Issues

Author

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  • Bożena Króliczewska

    (Department of Animal Physiology and Biostructure, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Ewa Pecka-Kiełb

    (Department of Animal Physiology and Biostructure, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Jolanta Bujok

    (Department of Animal Physiology and Biostructure, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

Methanogenesis plays a crucial role in the digestive process of ruminant animals. During this process, methanogenic archaea produce methane as a byproduct of their metabolism. However, the production of methane by ruminants is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has a 28-fold greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Around 15% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are generated by livestock. Therefore, reducing methane emissions from ruminant livestock is an important goal for reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. There is a variety of strategies that can be used to reduce methane emissions, including dietary modifications, genetic selection, microbiome manipulation, and feed additives, such as plant secondary metabolites, methane inhibitors, lipids, essential oils, and algae. The main and important objective of this paper is to critically discuss the current strategies proposed to reduce methane emissions from livestock. Though many strategies, such as chemical intervention, have remarkably reduced methane emissions from ruminants, their usage remains unappealing because of health and safety concerns as well as consumer decisions. Hence, genetic animal selection and biological feed additives, such as probiotics and secondary plant metabolites, have emerged as promising techniques for mitigating enteric methane emissions. These strategies are highly promising, but more intensive research is needed to validate these approaches and assess their effectiveness in reducing methane production by ruminants.

Suggested Citation

  • Bożena Króliczewska & Ewa Pecka-Kiełb & Jolanta Bujok, 2023. "Strategies Used to Reduce Methane Emissions from Ruminants: Controversies and Issues," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:3:p:602-:d:1084679
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Erica Hargety Kimei & Devotha G. Nyambo & Neema Mduma & Shubi Kaijage, 2024. "Review of Sources of Uncertainty and Techniques Used in Uncertainty Quantification and Sensitivity Analysis to Estimate Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ruminants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Dobroslava Bujňáková & Katarína Kucková & Zora Váradyová & Iveta Plachá & Viola Strompfová & Jan Bohm & Lenka Micenková & Klaudia Čobanová, 2023. "Effects of Dietary Zinc and/or an Herbal Mixture on Intestinal Microbiota and Barrier Integrity in Lambs," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Kelechi A. Ike & Oludotun O. Adelusi & Joel O. Alabi & Lydia K. Olagunju & Michael Wuaku & Chika C. Anotaenwere & Deborah O. Okedoyin & DeAndrea Gray & Peter A. Dele & Kiran Subedi & Ahmed E. Kholif &, 2024. "Effects of Different Essential Oil Blends and Fumaric Acid on In Vitro Fermentation, Greenhouse Gases, Nutrient Degradability, and Total and Molar Proportions of Volatile Fatty Acid Production in a To," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, May.
    4. Barbara Wróbel & Waldemar Zielewicz & Mariola Staniak, 2023. "Challenges of Pasture Feeding Systems—Opportunities and Constraints," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-31, April.
    5. Federico Infascelli & Nadia Musco & Daria Lotito & Eleonora Pacifico & Sara Matuozzo & Fabio Zicarelli & Piera Iommelli & Raffaella Tudisco & Pietro Lombardi, 2023. "The “Noble Method ® ”: A One Health Approach for a Sustainable Improvement in Dairy Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-16, October.

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