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Mitigation of ruminant methane production: current strategies, constraints and future options

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology volume 24, pages 2747–2755 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Mitigating methane losses from cattle has economic as well as environmental benefits. The aim of this paper is to review the current approaches in relation to associated advantages and disadvantages and future options to reduce enteric methane emission from cattle. Current technologies can be broadly grouped into those that increase productivity of the animal (improved nutrition strategies) so that less methane is produced per unit of meat or milk, and those that directly modify the rumen fermentation so that less methane is produced in total. Data suggest that many of these practices are not appropriate for long term mitigation of methane emissions in ruminants because of their constraints. So it is necessity to develop long term strategies in suppressing methane production. An integrated research investigating animal, plant, microbe and nutrient level strategies would offer a long term solution of methane production. Genetic selection of animals, vaccination, probiotics, prebiotics and plant improvement are the most promising options of all the future approaches discussed. These approaches will reduce enteric methane production without any hazard to animal or environment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30530560) for support.

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  1. Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People’s Republic of China

    Muhammad Farooq Iqbal, Yan-Fen Cheng, Wei-Yun Zhu & Basit Zeshan

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  1. Muhammad Farooq Iqbal
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  2. Yan-Fen Cheng
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  3. Wei-Yun Zhu
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Correspondence to Wei-Yun Zhu.

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Iqbal, M.F., Cheng, YF., Zhu, WY. et al. Mitigation of ruminant methane production: current strategies, constraints and future options. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 2747–2755 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-008-9819-y

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Keywords

  • Mitigation
  • Ruminant methane
  • Constraints
  • Future options