Potentials to reduce methane emissions in sheep

Publication Type

Contribution to conference

Authors

Leberl, P., H. Steingaß and W. Drochner

Year of publication

2004

Published in

Proceedings of the International Conference

Editor

Achim Weiske (Ed.)

Page (from - to)

278-279

Conference name

Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture mitigation options and strategies

Conference location

Leipzig

Conference date

10.-12.02.2004

Keywords

greenhouse gas emission, methane emission, sheep

Introduction: Contributing 15 % of the total atmospheric methane (CH4) output in the world ruminants are the largest single anthropogenic CH4 emission source (IPCC 2000a). Among them, sheep are the second most important CH4 producers with a total population CH4 emission of 6,9 teragram per year. This means an individual CH4 production of 7-9 kg per year (Crutzen et al., 1986), which amounts to 6-8 % of the gross energy-intake (GE). Besides the environmental aspect, CH4 emission constitutes an energy loss for the animal.