NEWS HIGHLIGHT
Fish oils reduce GHG emissions cows
Researchers from University College Dublin recently
reported that by including two percent fish oil in the diet of cattle
they achieved a reduction in the amount of methane released by the
animals.
March 31, 2009 – Researchers from University College Dublin recently reported that by including two percent fish oil in the diet of cattle they achieved a reduction in the amount of methane released by the animals.
“The fish oil affects the methane-producing bacteria in the rumen part of the cow’s gut, leading to reduced emissions,” said Dr. Lorraine Lillis, one of the researchers, during a meeting of the Society for General Microbiology. “Understanding which microbial species are particularly influenced by changes in diet and relating them to methane production could bring about a more targeted approach to reducing methane emissions in animals.”
More than a third of all methane emissions – around 900 billion tonnes every year – are produced by methanogen bacteria that live in the digestive systems of ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats.
Approximately 50 percent of Irish agricultural methane emissions result from farm animals; there have been suggestions that, to help combat global warming, a cap be placed on the number of animals in animal production due to their methane production but with a reduction in methane levels through diet this may not be as necessary.
