NEW STUDY FINDS THAT SEVERE UNDERNUTRITION OF CATTLE INCREASES THEIR METHANE PRODUCTION
Livestock production generates significant amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for about 65% of the total emissions from agriculture globally. Of these emissions, 40% are generated through enteric fermentation, the digestive processes that ferment feed in ruminants.
Methane (CH4) emissions from enteric fermentation are a key source of GHG emissions. To reduce these emissions, there is the need to accurately estimate them especially because methane traps more heat and thus has a greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide (CO2) for instance. Therefore, reducing the rate of enteric methane emissions is necessary to mitigate global warming.