Reducing the Climate Impact of Ruminant Feed and Improving Animal Health in Europe by Using Maize and Lupine Additives
Ruminant farming is a significant contributor to global food production but also a major source of methane emissions. It is responsible for nearly 44% of greenhouse gases from the agricultural sector. The integration of maize and lupine into the diets of ruminants offers a sustainable strategy for i...
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North Carolina State University
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/23954 |
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| author | Barbara Płacheta Ilona Motyl Joanna Berłowska |
| author_facet | Barbara Płacheta Ilona Motyl Joanna Berłowska |
| author_sort | Barbara Płacheta |
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| description | Ruminant farming is a significant contributor to global food production but also a major source of methane emissions. It is responsible for nearly 44% of greenhouse gases from the agricultural sector. The integration of maize and lupine into the diets of ruminants offers a sustainable strategy for improving feed efficiency, reducing methane emissions, and enhancing animal productivity. Fermented maize silage has been shown to lower methane emissions by 10 to 20% compared to conventional high-starch diets. Lupine supplementation can further reduce methane emissions by influencing rumen fermentation. The inclusion of lupine, a nitrogen-fixing legume, additionally enhances soil fertility and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, making it an environmentally sustainable alternative to soybean meal. Studies indicate that diets incorporating maize silage and lupine can improve feed conversion efficiency and increase milk yield by up to 5% in dairy cattle. However, large-scale adoption of these feed additives requires further research to optimize fermentation processes, ensure economic feasibility, and overcome regulatory barriers. This study highlights the potential of maize and lupine as viable solutions for enhancing livestock sustainability while mitigating climate impacts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ba0b31a54784bafa00d0917dba1bc08 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1930-2126 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | North Carolina State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BioResources |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ba0b31a54784bafa00d0917dba1bc082025-08-04T19:59:23ZengNorth Carolina State UniversityBioResources1930-21262025-07-01203800280223408Reducing the Climate Impact of Ruminant Feed and Improving Animal Health in Europe by Using Maize and Lupine AdditivesBarbara Płacheta0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3256-456XIlona Motyl1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7495-5315Joanna Berłowska2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9465-4819Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Interdisciplinary Doctoral School, Lodz University of Technology, 171/173 Wólczańska Street, 90-924 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, 171/173 Wólczańska Street, 90-924 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, 171/173 Wólczańska Street, 90-924 Lodz, PolandRuminant farming is a significant contributor to global food production but also a major source of methane emissions. It is responsible for nearly 44% of greenhouse gases from the agricultural sector. The integration of maize and lupine into the diets of ruminants offers a sustainable strategy for improving feed efficiency, reducing methane emissions, and enhancing animal productivity. Fermented maize silage has been shown to lower methane emissions by 10 to 20% compared to conventional high-starch diets. Lupine supplementation can further reduce methane emissions by influencing rumen fermentation. The inclusion of lupine, a nitrogen-fixing legume, additionally enhances soil fertility and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, making it an environmentally sustainable alternative to soybean meal. Studies indicate that diets incorporating maize silage and lupine can improve feed conversion efficiency and increase milk yield by up to 5% in dairy cattle. However, large-scale adoption of these feed additives requires further research to optimize fermentation processes, ensure economic feasibility, and overcome regulatory barriers. This study highlights the potential of maize and lupine as viable solutions for enhancing livestock sustainability while mitigating climate impacts.https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/23954ruminantsanimal productionfermentationplant biomassmaizelupine |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Płacheta Ilona Motyl Joanna Berłowska Reducing the Climate Impact of Ruminant Feed and Improving Animal Health in Europe by Using Maize and Lupine Additives BioResources ruminants animal production fermentation plant biomass maize lupine |
| title | Reducing the Climate Impact of Ruminant Feed and Improving Animal Health in Europe by Using Maize and Lupine Additives |
| title_full | Reducing the Climate Impact of Ruminant Feed and Improving Animal Health in Europe by Using Maize and Lupine Additives |
| title_fullStr | Reducing the Climate Impact of Ruminant Feed and Improving Animal Health in Europe by Using Maize and Lupine Additives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reducing the Climate Impact of Ruminant Feed and Improving Animal Health in Europe by Using Maize and Lupine Additives |
| title_short | Reducing the Climate Impact of Ruminant Feed and Improving Animal Health in Europe by Using Maize and Lupine Additives |
| title_sort | reducing the climate impact of ruminant feed and improving animal health in europe by using maize and lupine additives |
| topic | ruminants animal production fermentation plant biomass maize lupine |
| url | https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/23954 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT barbarapłacheta reducingtheclimateimpactofruminantfeedandimprovinganimalhealthineuropebyusingmaizeandlupineadditives AT ilonamotyl reducingtheclimateimpactofruminantfeedandimprovinganimalhealthineuropebyusingmaizeandlupineadditives AT joannaberłowska reducingtheclimateimpactofruminantfeedandimprovinganimalhealthineuropebyusingmaizeandlupineadditives |