Methane emissions in cattle production: biology, measurement and mitigation strategies in smallholder farmer systems

Livestock production is a significant contributor to global methane emissions, which could have negative environmental and economic impacts. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of methane emission in cattle production, including its importance, biology, measurement, and mitigation strategies under smallholder farmers systems that are common in the developing countries. The paper synthesizes information from recent studies to provide guidance and opinions that could be useful for working professionals in the livestock industry, researchers, policymakers, and the smallholder farmers across different parts of the developing countries. The paper emphasizes the importance of studying methane emission in cattle production, given its impact on the environment and its potential for economic sustainability. It discusses the factors affecting methane emission, including animals’ age, breed, feed type and quality, and manure management practices. The paper also highlights the need for more accurate measurement of the methane emission factors as a critical need in the estimation and accounting of methane emission impacts in livestock production. Additionally, the paper provides an overview of mitigation strategies, including dietary manipulation, manure management, and genetic selection, and identifies challenges and opportunities for future research. Ultimately, the paper made contributions to the development of climate-smart cattle production under smallholder operations with benefits for both the environment and the economy.