Global network for the development and maintenance of nutrition-related strategies for mitigation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant livestock – GLOBAL NETWORK

A main task of this proposal is to create, and subsequently update and expand, the METHANE DATABASE for mitigation of enteric CH4. The CH4 mitigation database created for a recent FAO report (Hristov et al., 2013) will be used as a foundation for developing the METHANE DATABASE under Global Network project. Some experimental studies will be conducted (France and Finland) on dairy cows to measure methane emission in relation with genetic trait of milk production and milk quality (milk fatty acids). A statistical meta-analysis will be performed on the database to asses the effect of potential mitigating strategies.

GLOBAL NETWORK for the development of nutrition-related strategies for mitigation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant livestock
A. N. Hristov, E. Kebreab, Z. T. Yu, C. Martin, M. Eugne, D. R. Yez Ruiz, K. J. Shingfield, S. Ahvenjrvi, P. O'Kiely, C. K. Reynolds, K. J. Hammond, J. Dijkstra, A. Bannink, A. Schwarm, M. Kreuzer

2014 ADSA-ASAS-CSAS Joint Annual Meeting; 07/2014

While it is accepted that this is an ambitious project, it is by its very nature the only means possible to meet and deliver on the priority actions identified by FACCE-JPI: (1) start an open process to
identify effective and economically-feasible mitigation practices, specific for different ruminant production systems, and systematically evaluate tools and protocols for laboratory and on-farm GHG emission measurements; and (2) the partners involved in the project will be in a prime position to catalyze and facilitate cooperation between FACCE-JPI and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural greenhouse gases through harmonizing of research methods, use of common protocols, sharing of data, and exchange of information and know-how.

in progress

Ruminant husbandry is a major source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG). There is a large
body of nutrition-related GHG and ammonia (NH3) mitigation data. These data, however, are not
well organized. The GLOBAL NETWORK we propose herein will accumulate, analyze, and
systematize these existing resources. The goals of this project are to: (1) Create, update, and
expand animal and feed databases for mitigation of enteric methane (CH4); (2) Gain understanding
of the contribution of genetic and microbial factors to variation in enteric CH4 production, digestion,
and nutrient utilization; (3) Validate markers of enteric methanogenesis for the development and
monitoring of CH4 mitigation strategies in ruminants; (4) Create, update, and expand a database of
mitigation strategies aimed at improving dietary N utilization and lowering N excretion and NH3 and
nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from manure; (5) Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and
guidelines for conducting and assessing data from in vitro and in vivo studies designed to evaluate
nutritional strategies for mitigation of CH4, NH3, and N2O emissions; (6) Develop new and evaluate
existing models for predicting CH4 emission and N excretions under various nutritional, animal, and
farm management scenarios; and (7) Identify and recommend CH4, NH3, and N2O mitigation
technologies that are practical and feasible for the specific conditions of livestock production
systems in the consortium countries. These activities will be integrated with the activities of the
“Network and Database on Feed and Nutrition in Relation to Greenhouse Gas Emissions” (FNN,
currently with 23 member-countries). The research we propose will go beyond developing and
maintaining an enteric CH4 mitigation database to also include dietary manipulations to reduce N
excretion by the animal, which will mitigate NH3 and N2O emissions from manure storage or land
application/deposition. Our multinational team of FNN member countries will assess the
performance and relevance of various quantification protocols and SOP developed to calculate
emission reduction potential of mitigation strategies for enteric CH4 and N excretion. Intensive
research will be conducted to understand genetic and microbial factors contributing to variability in
CH4 production and to validate markers of enteric methanogenesis. Based on the mitigation
databases, the team will develop, improve, and evaluate models for predicting CH4 production
under various dietary, animal, and farm management conditions and also the impact of diet on
excreta composition as related to NH3 and N2O emissions from manure. The proposed GLOBAL
NETWORK will fill important knowledge gaps and provide the much needed expert
recommendations for future research priorities, methodologies and science-based GHG mitigation
solutions to government and non-governmental organizations, advisory/extension networks, and
the ruminant livestock sector.