1 research outputs found
Use of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Reduce Methane Production in Ruminants, a Critical Review
peer-reviewedEnteric fermentation in ruminants is the single largest anthropogenic source of
agricultural methane and has a significant role in global warming. Consequently,
innovative solutions to reduce methane emissions from livestock farming are required
to ensure future sustainable food production. One possible approach is the use of lactic
acid bacteria (LAB), Gram positive bacteria that produce lactic acid as a major end
product of carbohydrate fermentation. LAB are natural inhabitants of the intestinal tract
of mammals and are among the most important groups of microorganisms used in
food fermentations. LAB can be readily isolated from ruminant animals and are currently
used on-farm as direct-fed microbials (DFMs) and as silage inoculants. While it has been
proposed that LAB can be used to reduce methane production in ruminant livestock,
so far research has been limited, and convincing animal data to support the concept
are lacking. This review has critically evaluated the current literature and provided a
comprehensive analysis and summary of the potential use and mechanisms of LAB as
a methane mitigation strategy. It is clear that although there are some promising results,
more research is needed to identify whether the use of LAB can be an effective methane
mitigation option for ruminant livestock