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Sustainable Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Small Ruminants Farming

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  • Elisavet Giamouri

    (Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Foivos Zisis

    (Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Christina Mitsiopoulou

    (Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Christos Christodoulou

    (Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Athanasios C. Pappas

    (Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Panagiotis E. Simitzis

    (Laboratory of Animal Breeding & Husbandry, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Charalampos Kamilaris

    (Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock, Innovation Centre, York Science Park, Innovation Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DG, UK)

  • Fenia Galliou

    (Department of Agriculture, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece)

  • Thrassyvoulos Manios

    (Department of Agriculture, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece)

  • Alexandros Mavrommatis

    (Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Eleni Tsiplakou

    (Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

During the previous decades, the growing demand for animal origin products has gained considerable attention. As a result, livestock breeding has faced a rapid intensification in order to fulfil market expectations. This increase in livestock production has led to a large scale of manure that is associated with many environmental impacts, such as climate change, to an increase of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Livestock production is considered to generate significant amounts of GHG, mainly carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O). Methane and nitrous oxide are the main emissions from livestock systems. Ruminants contribute highly to total livestock emissions. In the present study, the contribution of livestock and especially of the small ruminants in GHG emissions is reviewed. Additionally, useful sustainable strategies for farming and feeding of small ruminants are highlighted. Some of the practices discussed include but are not limited to efficient manure management, the replacement of mineral fertilizers by farm manure, the improvement of feed efficiency and provision of feed supplements. Moreover, the use of food waste or agro-industrial by-products is discussed as a sustainable strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisavet Giamouri & Foivos Zisis & Christina Mitsiopoulou & Christos Christodoulou & Athanasios C. Pappas & Panagiotis E. Simitzis & Charalampos Kamilaris & Fenia Galliou & Thrassyvoulos Manios & Alex, 2023. "Sustainable Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Small Ruminants Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4118-:d:1079099
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    References listed on IDEAS

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