Plant extracts for sustainable livestock production

The rumen is a very efficient organ, producing microbial amino acids and making them available to the animal. However, rumen fermentation also brings some disadvantages such as methane production. Together with the nitrogen losses due to inefficient utilisation of dietary protein, this brings a great risk to the environment. To find new solutions to this problem, a large European project was set up to explore new plant extracts with methane inhibiting characteristics and animal health promoting qualities. Project coordinator dr. John Wallace reports.