Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
2.7
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Advances in Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminant Livestock
share announcement

Advances in Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminant Livestock

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 5978

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Abdulai Guinguina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Natural Resources Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Interests: ruminant nutrition; feed efficiency; energy metabolism; methane mitigation; mathematical models
Dr. Saheed A Salami

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mootral Ltd., Abertillery, UK
Interests: ruminant nutrition; rumen microbiome; methane mitigation; life cycle analysis; livestock sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ruminant livestock sector must meet the increased global demand for animal protein while tackling the challenges of reducing its environmental impacts. Enteric methane has been identified as the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in global ruminant production, accounting for approximately 47% of total emissions. As a potent GHG, methane has a global warming potential about 27 times higher than that of CO2. Moreover, enteric methane represents a dietary gross energy loss that, if mitigated, could be redirected for improving animal productivity. These factors emphasize the environmental and economic significance of developing innovative solutions for methane mitigation that can be implemented at the farm level.

This Special Issue aims to explore recent research progress for developing enteric methane mitigation strategies, including selective breeding and genetics, diet reformulation and feed management practices, feed additives, vaccines, and phage treatments. Emphasis will be placed on scalable solutions that can be practically implemented on farms and across different production systems. Moreover, the scope of this Special Issue would cover research that addresses the paucity of reliable methodologies for quantifying and validating the effectiveness of methane mitigation solutions at the farm level. There are concerns regarding the potential trade-offs associated with some methane mitigation strategies, such as changes in animal productivity and feed and nutrient emissions. Thus, this Special Issue will also consider papers that employ system-level methodologies such as life cycle analysis (LCA) to evaluate the holistic impacts and net effects of enteric methane mitigation on the total GHG emissions and emission intensity at the individual farm level or across geographical regions.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome for submission for publication in this Special Issue. The focus areas may encompass a range of innovative interventions for enteric methane mitigation, including in vitro and in vivo experiments, on-farm validation studies, mathematical modelling, and LCA.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Saheed A Salami
Dr. Abdulai Guinguina
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ruminant production
  • dairy cows
  • beef cattle
  • sheep
  • goat
  • enteric methane
  • rumen fermentation
  • climate change
  • life cycle analysis
  • sustainable livestock

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 272 KiB  
Article
Effects of Lipids from Soybean Oil or Ground Soybeans on Energy Efficiency and Methane Production in Steers
by Elizabeth Fonsêca Processi, Tiago Cunha Rocha, Laila Cecília Ramos Bendia, Clóvis Carlos Silveira Filho, Alexandre Berndt, Elon Souza Aniceto and Tadeu Silva de Oliveira
Animals 2025, 15(3), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030321 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 454
Abstract
Using lipids can correct energy deficiencies in pasture, boost weight gain in ruminants, and enhance profitability in farming activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the energy losses in feedlot steers fed diets based on corn silage, with or without the [...] Read more.
Using lipids can correct energy deficiencies in pasture, boost weight gain in ruminants, and enhance profitability in farming activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the energy losses in feedlot steers fed diets based on corn silage, with or without the addition of lipids in the form of soybean oil or ground soybean seeds. Eight steers were randomly assigned to two balanced 4 × 4 Latin squares. The experimental treatments were as follows: corn silage; corn silage and concentrate feed without lipid addition; corn silage and concentrate feed with 5% lipid (soybean oil) addition; corn silage and concentrate feed with 5% lipid (ground soybean seeds) addition. The results showed that steers fed only corn silage had (p < 0.001) lower dry matter intake (DMI) compared to other treatments. Gross energy intake and gross energy in feces mirrored DMI trends (p < 0.05). Diets with concentrate supplements resulted in higher digestible energy intake (p < 0.05) and increased gross energy in urine. Notably, adding lipids decreased (p < 0.05) methane energy losses, although the processing method did not (p > 0.05) impact these outcomes. In conclusion, adding lipids to the diet reduced energy losses through methane emissions, increasing steers’ energy efficiency. Therefore, the inclusion of lipids reduced enteric methane production in steers. Additionally, the method of lipid processing (soybean oil or ground soybean seeds) did not affect energy partitioning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminant Livestock)
13 pages, 1701 KiB  
Article
Enteric Methane Emission from Cattle Grazing Systems with Cover Crops and Legume–Grass Pasture
by José Ignacio Gere, Silvina Beatriz Restovich, Juan Mattera, María Isabel Cattoni, Abimael Ortiz-Chura, Gabriela Posse and María Esperanza Cerón-Cucchi
Animals 2024, 14(23), 3535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14233535 - 7 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1117
Abstract
This study aims to quantify enteric methane (CH4) emission and dry matter intake (DMI) in beef steers under two rotational grazing systems: (i) a mixture of cover crops (vetch + ryegrass + forage radish) (CC) and (ii) alfalfa and fescue pasture [...] Read more.
This study aims to quantify enteric methane (CH4) emission and dry matter intake (DMI) in beef steers under two rotational grazing systems: (i) a mixture of cover crops (vetch + ryegrass + forage radish) (CC) and (ii) alfalfa and fescue pasture (AFP). Eighteen Hereford steers were divided into two groups (nine steers per group), assigned to either the CC or AFP. Methane emissions were measured using the SF6 tracer technique. The results showed that steers grazing CC produced 29% less CH4 in g/d compared to those on the AFP (119.1 vs. 167.1 g/d for CC and AFP, p < 0.05) and 36% less CH4 yield (4.3 vs. 6.7% of gross energy intake). However, average daily gain (ADG), DMI, and CH4 intensity (gCH4/kg ADG) did not significantly differ between treatments. The integration of CC in a cattle grazing system has the potential to reduce CH4 emissions by improving forage quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminant Livestock)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 348 KiB  
Article
Effect of Cashew Nutshell Extract, Saponins and Tannins Addition on Methane Emissions, Nutrient Digestibility and Feeding Behavior of Beef Steers Receiving a Backgrounding Diet
by Wilmer Cuervo, Camila Gómez, Federico Tarnonsky, Ignacio Fernandez-Marenchino, Araceli Maderal, Federico Podversich, Juan de J. Vargas and Nicolas DiLorenzo
Animals 2024, 14(21), 3126; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14213126 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1134
Abstract
The beef industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through enteric methane emissions, exacerbating climate change. Anacardic acid in cashew nutshell extract (CNSE), saponins and tannins (ST) are plant secondary metabolites that show promise in methane mitigation via antimicrobial effects, potentially exerting changes in [...] Read more.
The beef industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through enteric methane emissions, exacerbating climate change. Anacardic acid in cashew nutshell extract (CNSE), saponins and tannins (ST) are plant secondary metabolites that show promise in methane mitigation via antimicrobial effects, potentially exerting changes in ruminal fermentation patterns. This study examined the impact of CNSE, ST, and their combination on methane emissions, digestibility, intake, and performance of sixteen Angus crossbred steers (347 ± 30 kg) receiving a backgrounding diet (70:30 corn silage: cottonseed burrs). The study used a 4 × 4 Latin square design (4 steers, 4 treatments, 4 periods) with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, including the main effects of additive (CNSE or ST) fed individually or combined. Thus, steers received the following treatments: (1) no additive, (2) CNSE only, (3) ST only, or (4) both (CNSEST). Non-supplemented steers registered eight more feedbunk visits/d than ST-steers and spent an extra 10 min/d on the feedbunk. The addition of ST tended to increase dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber intake. Additives fed individually reduced CP digestibility. Intake of the carrier containing CNSE only was lesser and coincided with a greater methane yield in that treatment. Digestibility and methane mitigation were improved after CNSEST compared with individual inclusion, suggesting synergistic reactions enhanced methane mitigation effects in fibrous diets without affecting the digestibility of nutrients nor animal growth performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminant Livestock)
19 pages, 310 KiB  
Article
Effects of Brown Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) Supplementation on Enteric Methane Emissions, Metabolic Status and Milk Composition in Peak-Lactating Holstein Cows
by Dušan Bošnjaković, Sreten Nedić, Sveta Arsić, Radiša Prodanović, Ivan Vujanac, Ljubomir Jovanović, Milica Stojković, Ivan B. Jovanović, Ivana Djuricic and Danijela Kirovski
Animals 2024, 14(11), 1520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111520 - 21 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1649
Abstract
The dairy industry contributes significantly to anthropogenic methane emissions, which have an impact on global warming. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a dietary inclusion of brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum on enteric methane emissions (EMEs), hematological and blood biochemical profiles, and [...] Read more.
The dairy industry contributes significantly to anthropogenic methane emissions, which have an impact on global warming. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a dietary inclusion of brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum on enteric methane emissions (EMEs), hematological and blood biochemical profiles, and milk composition in dairy cows. Eighteen Holstein cows were divided into three groups: CON (non-supplemented cows), BS50 (50 mL of 10% A. nodosum), and BS100 (100 mL of 10% A. nodosum). In each cow, measurements of EME, dry matter intake (DMI), and milk yield (MY), as well as blood and milk sampling with respective analyzes, were performed before supplementation (P1), after 15 (P2) days, and after 30 (P3) days of supplementation. A. nodosum reduced (p < 0.05) methane production, methane yield, and methane intensity in both BS50 and BS100, and raised DMI (p < 0.05) only in BS50. Total bilirubin (p < 0.05) was higher in BS50 compared to CON cows in P2, and triacylglycerols were lower (p < 0.05) in BS50 than in CON cows in P3. Higher milk fat content was found in BS50 than in CON cows in P3. C16:0 proportions were higher (p < 0.05) in BS50 and BS100 than in CON cows, while C18:3n-3 was higher (p < 0.05) in BS100 than in BS50 and CON cows in P3. Dietary treatment with A. nodosum reduced EMEs and showed the potential to increase DMI and to improve energy status as well as milk composition in peak-lactating dairy cows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminant Livestock)

Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 1100 KiB  
Review
A Review of Producer Adoption in the U.S. Beef Industry with Application to Enteric Methane Emission Mitigation Strategies
by Jaime R. Luke and Glynn T. Tonsor
Animals 2025, 15(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15020144 - 9 Jan 2025
Viewed by 931
Abstract
Cattle are ruminant animals that produce enteric methane (CH4) emissions as a byproduct of their natural digestive process. U.S. beef producers have been receiving pressure to reduce production emissions. The scientific community continues to research and develop methods to reduce enteric [...] Read more.
Cattle are ruminant animals that produce enteric methane (CH4) emissions as a byproduct of their natural digestive process. U.S. beef producers have been receiving pressure to reduce production emissions. The scientific community continues to research and develop methods to reduce enteric methane emissions, but adoption of such strategies by U.S. beef producers remains unknown. We complete a review on producer adoption in the U.S. beef industry to shed light on potential factors that may impact the adoption of emissions-mitigating strategies by U.S. beef producers. After querying nine research databases, fifty-five studies were gathered and synthesized. These studies span the beef supply chain and focus on topics including feed additives, management practices, and reproductive technologies. Economic returns are a key driver of U.S. beef producer adoption decisions, with accompanying considerations for the impacts on consumer perceptions and demand. Segmentation in the U.S. beef supply chain, with animals typically changing ownership multiple times prior to slaughter, may result in challenges in tracing and verifying the adoption of climate-focused strategies. Targeting large-scale producers may be the most efficient avenue to achieving emissions reduction goals via the adoption of methane-mitigating strategies. Younger producers could additionally be a target demographic for adoption efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions from Ruminant Livestock)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop