Methane emissions from ruminant livestock; are they important and can we reduce them?

Abstract

Globally methane emissions from ruminant livestock account for 5-6% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. In New Zealand, methane emissions from ruminants comprise 31.5% of our total emissions putting us in a unique position within the developed world. Reducing methane emissions from ruminant livestock is technically challenging and has to be achieved against a rising demand for animal products. Keywords: methane, mitigation, ruminants