CLIMATE-SMART LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION

Abstract

Climate-smart livestock systems are essential for sustainable food production and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and ruminants—major contributors to methane emissions—were evaluated under conventional and low-emission diets to assess effects on feed efficiency, growth performance, and enteric methane production, with parameters including weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and methane output monitored, showing that targeted low-emission dietary interventions not only reduce greenhouse gas output but also enhance feed utilization and overall growth, highlighting their potential as a practical, effective, and economically viable approach to achieving sustainable livestock production and environmental sustainability.

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Introduction

Livestock production significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane—produced during enteric fermentation in ruminants—which has a global warming potential roughly 28 times that of carbon dioxide over 100 years, making its mitigation critical, as the sector accounts for 14–18% of anthropogenic emissions, while inefficient feed utilization also causes economic losses, emphasizing the need for strategies that enhance both environmental sustainability and livestock productivity.