A significant portion of the world’s methane emissions come from agriculture, the majority of which are produced by ruminant animals. Accurate measurement of these emissions is therefore a critical focus for advancing sustainable farming practices. However, as it stands, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the optimal method to define methane emissions in sheep. Studies have explored the variability of methane emissions across animals, showing differences in output based on factors such as life stage, body condition score, and dry matter intake. Nevertheless, the lack of a standardized definition for methane emissions remains a significant gap in the field. This study, therefore, is the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive evaluation of alternative methane emission metrics in sheep by deriving multiple trait definitions and examining how these metrics relate to one another and to key production traits.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.