A Review: Utilization of Seaweed in Reducing Methane for Ruminants

Abstract

Ruminants contribute to the production of methane gas as a result of the feed fermentation by methanogenic bacteria in the rumen. Methane (CH4) is one of the reason that cause greenhouse gas effect and has a 25x greater effect than CO2 in catching heat that causes global warming. Methane gas production in ruminants can be reduced through animal feed supplementation, includes the addition of ionophores, legumes, essential oils, chemical compounds, fats, probiotics, and secondary metabolites in plants (halogenated, pholrotannin, tannin, saponin, iodine). Seaweed is one commodity that has the potential as a feed additive in reducing ruminant methane. Seaweed is a fishery commodity that has great potential to be developed in Indonesia because Indonesia is an archipelagic country. In 2018 the production of wet seaweed in Indonesia reached 10.32 million tons. Seaweed can be used as a feed additive which has the ability to reduce the production of methane gas in ruminants. Seaweed contains protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, oils, and amino acids also several secondary compounds (phlorotannin, iodine, and halogenated compounds). Some of these compounds has been proved to be able to reduce the production of methane gas in ruminants because of its anti-methanogenic properties. Bromoform content in seaweed has also been shown to be effective in inhibiting the emission of methane gas from the digestive tract due to its ability to interfere with the methanogenesis process. Utilization of seaweed in reducing methane can be used as additional feed for ruminants.

Keywords:   Methane gas, ruminants, seaweed.