Back to R&D main

Development of historic database and meta-analysis facility for livestock emissions

Project start date: 17 May 2010
Project end date: 01 April 2011
Publication date: 01 February 2011
Project status: Completed
Livestock species: Sheep, Goat, Lamb, Grassfed cattle, Grainfed cattle
Relevant regions: National
Download Report (0.4 MB)

Summary

​A publication database and collection was constructed from publically available literature reporting the effects of dietary mitigation on methane emissions.  The data collection contained 782 sources from the international peer reviewed literature.  The literature was subdivided into a number of individual collections – for example 'in vivo' and 'in vitro' literature, by species (sheep, cattle) and by technique.  A meta-analysis was conducted on a proportion of the in vitro data collection identifying key factors affecting the overall usefulness of the analysis.  For instance, there was a lack of consensus in the international literature concerning in vitro techniques, incubation parameters, reporting of fermentation and gas parameters.  A recommendation for collaborative research to be undertaken to standardize methods and evaluation protocols (in a similar fashion to current work on meta-genomics) was made.​

More information

Project manager: Sarah-Jane Savage
Primary researcher: UoM Commercial Limited