Mitigation of enteric methane for French cattle: potential extent and cost of selected actions

Michel Doreau (1) , Laure Bamière (2) , Sylvain Pellerin (3) , Michel Lherm (1) , Marc Benoit (1)

1 UMRH - Unité Mixte de Recherche sur les Herbivores - UMR 1213
2 ECO-PUB - Economie Publique
3 UMR ISPA - Interactions Sol Plante Atmosphère

The purpose of this study was (i) to select options for enteric methane abatement in French conditions, while maintaining production and changing practices but not systems, and (ii) to evaluate the extent of abatement and its cost from 2010 to 2030. Two options were selected: supplying unsaturated fats, and using nitrates as a dietary additive in the diet. Unsaturated fats resulted in a higher abatement, because a greater number of animals were concerned by the option, but incurred a higher total cost and a higher cost per ton of CO2-equivalent avoided. The results were sensitive to methodology, and to variations in the choice of fats and in the cost of ingredients, among other factors.

Domaines: Sciences agricoles

Michel Doreau, Laure Bamière, Sylvain Pellerin, Michel Lherm, Marc Benoit. Mitigation of enteric methane for French cattle: potential extent and cost of selected actions. Joint ISNH/ISRP International Conference 2014 : Harnessing the Ecology and Physiology of Herbivores, Sep 2014, Canberra, Australia. 2014. ⟨hal-01173065⟩