Methane and net zero. Part 2: a review of ruminant methane mitigation strategies and their contextualisation

Background: Since 2011, agriculture has been the largest anthropogenic source of methane emissions in the UK, the vast majority of which comes from enteric fermentation by ruminants, predominately cattle. Given methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases but is only present in the atmosphere for a short amount of time, globally there is a unique opportunity to slow climate warming if emissions can be reduced. It is essential for the public, policymakers and veterinarians to understand the key facts about the climate impacts of, and the methane mitigation methods available within, agriculture. Given the role of vets in herd health management and their crucial relationship with farmers, understanding the role of ruminants in global warming and what mitigation tools can be implemented will help their clients reduce the climate impact as well as provide other financial and animal welfare benefits.

Aim of the article: This article is a review-style article which aims to inform veterinarians of the methane mitigation strategies currently available or in development in the livestock industry. This will provide background knowledge of where each strategy may be most appropriate, their co-benefits with other environmental issues and the overall cost-effectiveness of these strategies in terms of farmer economics, animal health and welfare, and practicability within the UK.