An overview of techniques for measuring methane emissions in cattle in tropical grazing systems

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ruminant grazing systems originates mostly from rumen fermentation processes particularly as methane. Measuring methane emissions from ruminants is essential for achieving accurate GHG inventories and developing effective strategies to mitigate GHG emissions in the context of climate change mitigation and sustainable livestock development. This Letter to the Editor aims to provide and discuss specific details about the SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) technique which is a methodology used for assessing methane emissions from ruminants, as well as an alternative technology, namely, the Greenfeed or respiration chambers. The SF6 technique is widely used in research settings to quantify methane emissions from ruminant livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats. Whereas the Greenfeed consists of a feeding station equipped with sensors that continuously monitor gases emitted by ruminants during feeding. Regarding respiration chambers, they function by enclosing the animals in a controlled environment where the air inflow and outflow are measured. Overall, under the Mexican grazing systems in the tropics, SF6, Greenfeed, and respiration chambers provide highly accurate data and are approaches that are required in the context of precision livestock farming.