Greenhouse gases from animal husbandry: mitigation options

Abatement strategies for direct emissions of greenhouse gases from animal husbandry are discussed. The reduction options are divided into preventive and `end of pipe' options. Preventive measures reduce either the carbon and nitrogen input into the system of animal husbandry or their output from the system, respectively. `End of pipe' measures reduce the formation of greenhouse gases from carbon and nitrogen within the system of animal husbandry. While animals with a high productivity fed with an optimized diet seem to be the best preventive measure, anaerobic digestion of the animal's excreta may be the most efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within animal husbandry.