(Ruminal methane emission related aspects in cattle production systems

Abstract

Methane is well known as a greenhouse effect intensifier. Ruminants, during the ruminal digestive fermentation process, transform carbohydrates available in the diet to volatile fatty acids, with production of carbon dioxide and methane. Therefore, ruminants are known as important methane source to the atmosphere. Methane production also means animal losses of ingested energy. Ruminal fermentation process is driven by dry matter intake, and feed quality. Therefore, consume of low quality diets will produce more methane per product unit (milk or beef) compared to high producing animals ingesting great amounts of high quality diets. The sulphur hex fluoride gas tracer technique did allow good methane emission measurements by grazing or free managed animals. Results show that the reduction of methane emission by cattle is related to better quality diet, to improvement of forage quality of pastures, to grain inclusion in diet, to animal breeds with greater production potential, and other practices that improve production efficiency, and result in shorter production cycles.