Methane emission: Strategies to reduce global warming in relation to animal husbandry units with emphasis on ruminants

Abstract

Concerns about global warming and greenhouse gases have increased the interest of governments and the public sector to find solutions. To reduce the effects of global warming caused by greenhouse gases, especially methane, it is necessary to change animal production systems and adopt new strategic approaches. The reduction of enteric methane in livestock is a long-standing problem regarding the energy efficiency of consumed feed. In this review, the sources of production, dissemination, and introduction of accepted scientific and practical solutions in order to reduce methane gas in breeding and production units of dairy cows have been investigated. To carry out this research, a thorough search was conducted in articles published in valid databases between 1967 and 2022. A total of 213 articles were reviewed, and after screening, 159 were included in the study and analyzed using a PRISMA flow diagram. In general, low livestock efficiency, low-quality feed, a shortage of knowledge, and inadequate investment are the main causes of emission of these gases in poor or developing countries. On the other hand, developing countries may not always have access to the same methods that are utilized in industrialized countries to minimize the production of methane and other greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide. According to their conditions, developing countries should use the available tools to reduce methane production and emission, considering the costs, local knowledge, feasibility, and local laws. In future, there will be a greater need for interdisciplinary research to look for sustainable and acceptable methods for reducing methane emissions and other greenhouse gases from animal husbandry units, especially dairy cows. To change the population of rumen methanogens, as the main producers of methane, strategies such as feeding management, addition of inhibitors and vaccination are suggested. Also, there is a need for more applied research for reducing methane emissions.