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Updated: May 7, 2026
The Use of an Automated System GreenFeed to Monitor Enteric Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Ruminant Animals
Published on: September 7, 2015
In vitro screening of selected feed additives, plant essential oils and plant extracts for rumen methane mitigation
Zoey Durmic1, Peter J Moate, Richard Eckard
1School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia M085, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia; Future Farm Industries CRC, The University of Western Australia M081, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
Background:
Ruminants produce large quantities of methane in their rumen as a by-product of microbial digestion of feed. Antibiotics are added to ruminant feed to reduce wasteful production of methane; however, this practice has some downsides. A search for safer and natural feed additives with anti-methanogenic properties is under way. The objective of this research was to examine selected feed additives, plant essential oils and plant extracts for their anti-methanogenic potential in the rumen using an in vitro batch fermentation system.
Results:
A significant reduction (P < 0.05) in methane production was observed with nine feed additives (up to 40% reduction), all eight essential oils (up to 75% reduction) and two plant extracts (14% reduction) when compared to their respective controls. Amongst these, only an algal meal high in docosahexaenoic acid, preparations of Nannochloropsis oculata, calcareous marine algae, yeast metabolites and two tannins did not inhibit microbial gas and volatile acid production.
Conclusions:
The current study identified some potent dietary ingredients or plant compounds that can assist in developing novel feed additives for methane mitigation from the rumen.
