Feed additives for methane mitigation: Recommendations for identification and selection of bioactive compounds to...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Limited availability of effective antimethanogenic feed additives (AMFA) hinders methane reduction in livestock.
• Significant research has been conducted, yet few AMFA have reached the market.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide technical recommendations and guidelines for screening compounds to reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions.
• To outline a systematic approach for discovering and identifying novel AMFA candidates.

Main Methods:

• Review of discovery approaches: empirical (screening databases, natural sources) and mechanistic (target-based).
• Evaluation of in vitro methodologies: subcellular, pure culture, and mixed rumen microbial populations.
• Analysis of advantages, limitations, and recommendations for each screening step.

Main Results:

• Two primary approaches (empirical and mechanistic) for identifying AMFA are detailed.
• Various in vitro methods, from simple to complex, offer different trade-offs in throughput and insight.
• Guidelines are provided for each stage of AMFA candidate identification and screening.

Conclusions:

• A structured approach combining discovery strategies and in vitro screening is essential for developing new AMFA.
• Careful selection of methodologies is critical for efficient and effective screening of potential methane-reducing compounds.
• Standardized guidelines will accelerate the development and market entry of novel AMFA.