Reducing the formation of enteric methane and influencing the methane potential of manure via nutrition of pigs : literature study

Summary

This desk study reviews literature on the effects of the nutrition of pigs on methane formation in the digestive tract and on methane formation capacity of faeces. The role of gut microbiota, fermentation processes and metabolic pathways involved in the methane formation in the hindgut of pigs are presented. An inventory has been made of animal and diet related parameters accounting for the quantity of enteric methane produced. Interventions on diet composition (feed ingredient and nutrient composition and use of specific additives) and feeding strategies that could mitigate enteric methane formation and/or methane emission from pig manure have been evaluated.