Global Network for the development and maintenance of nutrition related strategies for mitigation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant livestock (GLOBAL NETWORK)

• Research unit: FOAG
• Project number: 14.12

Key words (German)

Wiederkäuerhaltung, Treibhausgasemissionen, Mitigationsstrategien

Key words (English)

ruminant livestock production, greenhouse gas emission, mitigation strategies

Key words (French)

élevage de ruminants, émission de gaz à effet de serre, stratégies de mitigation

Short description (English)

Ruminant livestock production is a major source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG). Fermentation and digestion of feeds in the digestive tract and in manure are the principle sources of CH₄ and N₂O emissions in ruminants. During recent years an extensive body of nutrition-related GHG mitigation data in ruminants has been generated by the International research community. However, these activities have generally been undertaken in isolation rather than being integrated and coordinated to develop a coherent program of work. The proposed Global Network will address this shortcoming by coordinating activities between leading international research teams and adding value to research undertaken thus far through an extensive evaluation of available experimental data. These activities will form an integral part of the “Network and Database on Feed and Nutrition in Relation to Greenhouse Gas Emissions” initiative (abbreviated as Feed and Nutrition Network; FNN). The FNN is an activity of the Livestock Research Group (LRG) within the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) with 23 member countries. The goals of the FNN are focused on mitigating CH₄ emissions and N losses from ruminants by nutritional means. The FNN also contributes to defining research needs and stimulates cooperation and networking between research groups on a global scale. The Global Network will capitalize on the existing FNN structure and will fulfill and further expand its goals in an innovative, integrated, and collaborative effort.

Project aims (English)

Create, update, and expand databases for the mitigation of enteric methane (CH₄):

(a) Animal database of responses to mitigation strategies (CH₄ production, ruminal fermentation, microbial diversity, nutrient utilization, animal productivity, health, fertility);

(b) Feed database of dietary characteristics mitigating CH₄ production (feed characteristics, methods of analyses, units, terminology).

Create, update, and expand a database of mitigation strategies aimed at improving the efficiency of utilization of dietary N and lowering ammonia (NH₃) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from manure storage and land application.

Develop Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines for conducting and assessing data from in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating nutrition-related strategies for mitigation of CH₄, NH₃, and N₂O emissions.

Develop new and evaluate existing models for predicting CH₄, NH₃, and N₂O emissions under various nutritional, animal, and farm management scenarios.

Publications / Results (German)

Der Schlussberichte liegt beim BLW vor.

Vier Beiträge in wissenschaftlichen Zeitschriften, 12 Beiträge an wissenschaftlichen Konferenzen und zwei Publikationen für die Öffentlichkeit wurden im Rahmen dieses Projekts erstellt.