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Estimation Methodologies for Enteric Methane Emission in Ruminants

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Climate Change Impact on Livestock: Adaptation and Mitigation

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Abstract

As enteric methane emissions from ruminants contribute to feed inefficiency and global warming, methodologies to measure the enteric methane from either the individual ruminant or the herd are needed. Therefore, methane emission estimations in ruminants may provide insight into potential methane mitigation strategies. Furthermore, the use of methane emission methodologies enables researchers to compare and contrast methane emissions from different diets, breeds, and geographical locations and to evaluate mitigation strategies. This chapter describes key methane estimation methodologies previously and currently used in research and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each methodology. Key in vivo techniques include open- and closed-circuit respiration chambers, open-circuit hood systems, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer, polythene tunnel system, methane/carbon dioxide ratio, GreenFeed, infrared (IR) thermography, laser methane detector, and the intraruminal gas measurement device. Furthermore, the in vitro gas technique (IVGT) estimates the methane emissions from different dairy rations. Theoretical methodologies include the rumen fermentation balance, COWPOLL ruminant digestion model, and the Cattle Enteric Fermentation Model (CEFM). Although there are several different types of methane estimation methodologies, the cost, species, accuracy of the technique, maintenance, and the environment of the ruminant are all contributing factors in choosing which technique to apply to a study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Vermont, 570 Main St., Burlington, VT, 05401, USA

    Laura M. Cersosimo & André-Denis G. Wright

  2. School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The University of Arizona, 1117 E. Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    André-Denis G. Wright

Authors
  1. Laura M. Cersosimo
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  2. André-Denis G. Wright
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Correspondence to André-Denis G. Wright .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Physiology Division, ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Veerasamy Sejian

  2. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia

    John Gaughan

  3. Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA

    Lance Baumgard

  4. ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Cadaba Prasad

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Cersosimo, L.M., Wright, AD.G. (2015). Estimation Methodologies for Enteric Methane Emission in Ruminants. In: Sejian, V., Gaughan, J., Baumgard, L., Prasad, C. (eds) Climate Change Impact on Livestock: Adaptation and Mitigation. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2265-1_13

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