Methane emissions from growing pigs at 50 and 90 kg body weight

Summary

Methane emissions from pigs are low but still poorly quantified across growth stages. This study measured CH₄ production in 50‑ and 70‑kg pigs housed in respiration chambers. Emissions nearly doubled with body weight, increasing from 2.19 to 4.17 L/day on average. Dietary protein level had only a minor effect, and no interaction with body weight was detected. Results highlight the need to include body‑weight effects when estimating methane emissions in pig production systems.