Managing Methane From Livestock
Creative Solutions For Animal Generated Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Sheep and cattle are ruminants, utilizing bacteria to ferment their food in the early stages of digestion. Those bacteria are responsible for producing methane, which is released into the atmosphere through belching and flatulence.
Other aspects of farming, applying fertilizer which releases nitrous oxide for example, also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions which need to be addressed if the goals of the Kyoto Protocol are to be met.
In New Zealand, for example, a lack of any significant industry in the country means that livestock farming is responsible nearly 90 percent of the methane and nitrous oxide produced in the country. Even in the highly industrialized United Kingdom, ruminants are responsible for twenty-five percent of the country’s methane emissions.
Some of the Options Being Considered:
- Cashew Oil Japanese researchers have found that oil from the cashew shell mixed into feed can reduce methane emissions in livestock. Initial studies showed as much as ninety percent lower greenhouse gas emissions from cattle fed the cashew oil. While this method shows promise, it is not clear whether the production and transport if the cashew oil can be done in a carbon neutral way. Finding ways to effectively deliver this oil to livestock out on pasture will also require some thought.
- Flatulence Vaccine Another area of study has been the mapping of the methane genome, which a New Zealand research organization has accomplished. With this knowledge they will work toward producing a vaccine to prevent belching and flatulence. Vaccine development and refinement may take some time.
- Breeding For Low Methane Production Some cattle and sheep naturally produce less methane. Efforts are underway to determine the gene or genes involved. Farmers could then breed for lower greenhouse gas producing livestock. As with the flatulence vaccine, ensuring that new problems are not created in the effort to genetically manage existing ones will be key to taking advantage of this inheritited trait.
- New Grasses Being Developed New Zealand and Australia are working on a joint venture to alter grasses to make them more digestible, thereby reducing methane production. There are concerns, though, that a more highly digestible grass might actually increase the amount of methane produced. In the case of dairy cows consuming the grass, increased milk production might offset the increase in methane, resulting in a lower amount of methane produced per liter of milk.
- The Vegetarian Alternative Stopping all livestock production has long been a tenet of vegetarian based conservation. Issues beyond greenhouse gas emissions include rainforest habitat destruction to make way for cattle ranches, damage done to native vegetation and contamination of water sources. In order for this option to be considered other high quality protein sources must be readily available to local consumers.
Each option has potential limits and liabilities, from potentially creating other sources of greenhouse gases to the concerns around genetic engineering. Approaching the methane problem from multiple aspects does, however, increase the likelihood of finding ways to reduce levels without creating new problems.
Sources:
Society of Chemical Industry (2008, May 8). 'Burpless' Grass Cuts Methane Gas From Cattle, May Help Reduce Global Warming.
Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium
