A 麻豆直播 has revealed breeding less-flatulent cows and restoring agricultural land could significantly reduce rising methane emission levels, which play a considerable role in climate change.
The food system, including grazing animals such as cows, generates major sources of methane mainly due to cattle digestion, manure decomposition and land use for grazing.
To look for solutions, researchers from the analysed 27 academic publications and identified dozens of potential strategies to reduce methane emissions from Australia鈥檚 beef and dairy sectors.
Study lead Merideth Kelliher said the fastest way to lower methane emissions would be to convert farmland into wetlands and forests, however there was a lot of scope for improvement by altering the operations of the dairy and beef sectors.
鈥淔or example, changing what breeding objectives include can permanently reduce methane production,鈥� Ms Kelliher said.
鈥淪tudies have found low emission cattle have inheritable genetic traits which can significantly reduce methane production if included in national breeding objectives.
鈥淲hile more research is needed to identify the best traits for low emission cows, consideration should also be given to land use emissions and identifying suitable agricultural land for restoration to natural habitat.鈥�
Other strategies to emerge from the study include finding ways for cows to reach maturity faster, improving wastewater management at beef processing plants and providing ozonated water (water treated with ozone gas to remove impurities), feeding cattle more grains than grass and adding certain legumes, seaweeds or other compounds to cattle feed.
Co-author and Curtin Professor of Sustainability said this was the first time such analysis had been conducted and was important given methane emissions are increasing along with global demand for beef and dairy products.
鈥淎s the world鈥檚 second biggest beef exporter, Australia contributes to global methane levels significantly,鈥� Professor Marinova said.
鈥淒espite being a signatory of the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions and a supporter of the Global Methane Pledge, Australia is yet to commit to methane reduction targets.
鈥淎ustralia needs to explore ways to meet its objectives 鈥� this study outlines several potential strategies which are practical, cost-effective and scientifically supported to help inform local and international policy makers鈥� efforts to reduce the impact of climate change.鈥�
Co-author and Curtin Research Fellow said this scenario analysis is important also for consumers to better understand the environmental footprint of their food choices.
Meta-Analysis and Ranking of the Most Effective Methane Reduction Strategies for Australia鈥檚 Beef and Dairy Sector was published in .
