The production of methane in the rumen of cattle increases as the amount of forage in their diets increases. The addition of seaweed to the diet of cows reduced methane production in the rumen. Cattle on diets containing high forage reduced methane emissions by 33% to 52%, and those on low forage diets decreased methane emissions by 70 to 80%. The reason behind this is that cows on low fiber diets have lower levels of the enzyme that produces methane.
Genetic selection
In the pursuit of total profitability, dairy enterprises are looking for traits that improve total milk production and minimize methane emissions. Methane emission can be a candidate trait for genetic selection in cattle, but it must be heritable and have enough genetic variation in the studied population to warrant consideration.
Researchers from the Technical University of Madrid and the National Confederation for Spanish Friesian Cattle (CFE) have studied how to use genetic selection to reduce cattle methane emissions. In the METALGEN project, genetic data from over 1,500 commercial dairy cows were used to identify novel targets associated with methane emissions.
To develop genetic markers for methane emissions in cattle, the authors used a dataset containing heritability estimates of methane emission traits, and genetic associations with production traits, including daily milk yield, corrected milk yield for fat, protein, and energy, and milk fat and protein content. They also included breed names, country of origin, and years of data collection.
The findings suggest that genetic selection may be a promising approach to improving the PME of dairy cattle. Several studies have suggested that genetic selection programs could reduce methane emission per unit of milk production. One study suggested a heritability estimate of 0.35 per corrected milk yield and 0.58 per corrected fat-corrected milk yield. The study also identified seven SNPs that were associated with PME in Holstein cattle.
Genetic selection for methane emissions from cattle has a number of advantages, including permanent effects. While diet and management strategies have been extensively researched, genetic selection has the added benefit of being permanent. Previous selection experiments in ruminants have shown a reduction in CH4 production.
Better animal management
Improved cattle feeds, vaccination, and better animal health interventions can reduce methane emissions by as much as 10%. These practices also improve the productivity of livestock, and can also reduce the herd’s size. Other best practices involve improving manure management and using energy-saving devices. Better management of grazing lands is another critical component of reducing methane emissions from cattle.
Methane emissions from livestock are not uniform across the world, but they are still significant, especially in Asia and Africa. In Asia, emissions are increasing because of population growth, and China and India are the two largest emitters. Livestock are a key contributor to climate change because they are required to feed the world’s growing population. Cattle, which account for about 60% of methane emissions, are an important component of the problem. However, reducing emissions from livestock is an ongoing challenge and the livestock industry has a keen interest in making improvements.
Genetic selection has the potential to reduce methane emissions from cattle. However, the success of genetic selection in reducing methane emissions depends on the selection pressure applied and how quickly genes are passed through national herds. Genetic improvements for reducing methane emissions from cattle can reduce emissions by as much as twenty percent over ten years, but this reduction is dependent on the rate of genetic gains.
Changing the diet of cattle can reduce methane emissions by as much as 18%. Improved diets contain added nitrates, which optimise the fermentation process and change the hydrogen pathway to ammonia. These feed additives also improve animal performance. However, these products can be toxic to cattle if they are used in large quantities. Some studies have shown that sudden addition of nitrate supplements may cause ill health and even death.
Sustainable feed ingredients
The Greener Cattle Initiative, which funds research to reduce the environmental impact of cattle feeding, aims to help producers produce more sustainable beef and dairy. The project seeks to reduce methane emissions by investing in scalable and commercially feasible technologies. Davis hopes that the initiative will help make cattle farming more sustainable, which is vital for addressing climate change.
One of the ingredients that are promising to reduce methane emissions from cattle is agolin. It consists of a mixture of plant extracts, including coriander seed oil and wild carrot, and is recommended for inclusion in concentrates and premixes. The company claims that the product is safe for cattle and can be used at up to 10 times the recommended dose without affecting feed intake. However, it has limited methane-reducing potential compared to some other additives, and its effects on animals are unclear.
Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, and is created when cattle digest their feed. This gas accounts for nearly one-third of anthropogenic methane emissions. It is especially dangerous to the environment since it contributes to global warming. As the reliance on cattle-derived products continues to increase, methane emissions are likely to increase.
Sustainable feed ingredients are becoming increasingly popular, and many manufacturers are developing products that use sustainable feed ingredients to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. One of these products, FutureFeed, uses Asparagopsis taxiformis, a native Australian seaweed. Asparagopsis is effective in reducing methane emissions, and also has the potential to increase livestock productivity.
Methane emissions from livestock are a leading cause of climate change. For this reason, companies such as ADM are developing novel concepts to reduce the methane emissions from cattle by using feed additives. These additives can improve the digestive process in cows and reduce enteric emissions. ADM’s goal is to increase performance while minimizing emissions.
Reducing emissions
Recent research from the University of California-Davis suggests two ways to reduce methane emissions from cattle. The researchers discussed their latest findings at a presentation to the Kansas Beef Council and the Kansas Soybean Commission. Methane is a major greenhouse gas and a primary contributor to global warming. The methane produced by livestock is different from carbon dioxide and behaves differently in the atmosphere. Because of this, it contributes to climate change.
There is still a great deal of work to be done in developing and validating strategies to reduce enteric methane emissions from livestock. These strategies must address the needs of farmers as well as broad socioeconomic considerations. Ultimately, these studies should lead to improved farming practices for reducing methane emissions and global warming.
In recent years, the livestock sector in the U.S. has become more efficient and emissions-free due to improved feed, improved veterinary care, and improved animal genetics. However, it may be years before such measures can be adopted in large-scale production. Fortunately, the industry is embracing new innovations and improving practices that will reduce methane emissions from cattle.
Moreover, methane has a much shorter life span in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, so it can be a more effective way to fight climate change. Since it has a much higher warming effect than carbon dioxide, eliminating methane in feed will begin to pay off right away.
Researchers have found that Asparagopsis can help cattle reduce their methane emissions. The Australian study used kiln-dried seaweed, which is less potent than freeze-dried seaweed. Similarly, a California study found that 0.5 percent of a cow’s diet of seaweed reduced methane emissions by 80 percent.
Global trends
Livestock is one of the largest contributors to global anthropogenic methane emissions, with emissions predicted to increase by 30 percent by 2050 if current policies remain unchanged. Yet only a few countries have set targets and implemented policies to reduce emissions. This divergence in perspective may reflect differing perspectives about the importance of mitigating livestock emissions.
Livestock contributes approximately one-third of global CH4 emissions. It is essential to understand the temporal and spatial variability of livestock emissions in order to improve mitigation efforts. While country-level information on livestock emissions is regularly reported in global databases and national inventories, few studies have attempted to spatially estimate the emissions from livestock over the course of a century. Here, we use the Tier 2 method (added to the 2006 IPCC guidelines) to estimate CH4 emissions from livestock globally at a spatial resolution of 0.083 deg.
While these policy choices are important, livestock should be included in mainstream mitigation policies. This inclusion is critical for achieving the 1.5 degC goal set out in the Paris Agreement. Further, livestock should be included in mitigation plans and measures that incorporate their unique cultural, social and economic roles. This will reduce the overall impact of livestock emissions on the climate and contribute to the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5degC.
Methane emissions from livestock can be reduced by improving feed and management of manure. The use of improved feeds can reduce methane emissions by up to 18%. In addition, better animal health interventions can reduce herd size and improve productivity. Improved management of grazing lands can also help to create carbon sinks.
