The potential of feed additives to mitigate enteric methane production from ruminants across different ruminant systems
Dr. Stephanie Terry, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canada has set ambitious commitments for reaching its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. Likewise, agricultural industry stakeholders have made their own targets to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions. Methane production from enteric fermentation is the most important greenhouse gas to ruminant livestock production, representing 80% of Canada’s agricultural methane emissions. Although the carbon footprint of beef and milk production per unit of product in Canada is less than 50% of the global average, ambitious and novel solutions for decreasing enteric methane are required to meet national methane pledges. Feed additives targeting enteric methane reduction are reviewed as having the most potential for potent, immediate and effective action. Despite the incoming availability of commercially produced feed additives, there is not widespread adoption due to several limitations including system application, regulatory restrictions, certainty in their validity, and economics. This paper will discuss the opportunities, limitations, and future research of feed additive technologies with the potential to decrease enteric methane production from both the Canadian beef and dairy population. Additionally, this paper will highlight the importance of co-ordination between government, industry, and producers in order the make feed additives available to meet Canada’s 2030 targets.
Keywords: ruminants, greenhouse gas emissions, enteric methane, feed additives.