Review of substances/agents that have direct beneficial effect on the environment: mode of action and assessment of efficacy

Abstract

Some substances and agents, used as livestock feed additives, could have an important role to play in delivering sustainable increases in productivity and simultaneous reductions in damaging pollutants. This research project aimed to identify livestock feed additives which may have potential benefits for the environment and create an inventory of these which included other relevant scientific and descriptive data. This is the final report of the project. It provides a detailed description of the methodology used and the research findings.The project considered over 620 scientific publications, reports and other documents which led to data for around 300 studies and 246 substances and agents with potential to be used as feed additives to be reviewed. Of the 246 substances and agents explored, 130 were found to offer potential benefits to the environment and, for some substances, the benefits could be very significant. In addition to data on efficacy the study also considered scientific methodologies, analytical approaches and statistical techniques used within the studies. The project also collated data relating to the physicochemical properties, and human and wildlife toxicity for each of the 130 substances and agents.© University of Hertfordshire, 2013 KEY WORDSEnvironment, feed additives, livestock, emissions DISCLAIMERThe present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as author(s). This task has been carried out exclusively by the author(s) in the context of a contract between the European Food Safety Authority and the author(s), awarded following a tender procedure. The present document is published complying with the transparency principle to which the Authority is subject. It may not be considered as an output adopted by the Authority. The European food Safety Authority reserves its rights, view and position as regards the issues addressed and the conclusions reached in the present document, without prejudice to the rights of the authors. The present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as author(s). This task has been carried out exclusively by the author(s) in the context of a contract between the European Food Safety Authority and the author(s), awarded following a tender procedure. The present document is published complying with the transparency principle to which the Authority is subject. It may not be considered as an output adopted by the Authority. The European Food Safety Authority reserves its rights, view and position as regards the issues addressed and the conclusions reached in the present document, without prejudice to the rights of the authors. SUMMARYSome substances and agents, used as livestock feed additives, could have an important role to play in delivering sustainable increases in productivity and simultaneous reductions in damaging pollutants. This research project aimed to identify livestock feed additives which may have potential benefits for the environment and create an inventory of these which includes other...

Reducing the formation of enteric methane and influencing the methane potential of manure via nutrition of pigs : literature study

“…Among 246 nutritional substances or agents that could potentially reduce GHG emissions in the environment by livestock, Lewis et al (2013) reviewed that 130 substances offer potential benefits. For non-ruminants, specific feed additives or ingredients containing specific functional compounds, such as probiotics, plant metabolites and organic acids have been studied and could be further investigated as mitigation strategies to reduce enteric methane formation in pigs.…”

Implementing IPCC 2019 Guidelines into a National Inventory: Impacts of Key Changes in Austrian Cattle and Pig Farming

“…Feed additives for improved N-use efficiency and lower N ex in farm manure or lower NH 3 formation due to urease inhibitors, e.g., benzoic acid, are described, for instance, in [105,106]. According to these studies, pigs have the second highest mitigation potential regarding feed additives, following cattle.…”

“…However, contradictory results can be found in the literature. For example, one study reported an average of −23% NH 3 emissions from the addition of benzoic acid, with a high variation of between +116% and −71% [105], whereas another study confirmed highly effective mitigation effects of CP reduction in finishing pigs but reported no significant effect of adding 1% benzoic acid to the diet [101].…”

Advanced estimation and mitigation strategies: a cumulative approach to enteric methane abatement from ruminants

“…With the application of essential oil, the methanogenesis decreases especially by reducing microbial populations [160]. The Allium arenarium oil (garlic oil), a highly promising essential oil, was significantly reduced methane production both in-vivo and in-vitro by 12% and 36%, respectively [161].…”