Tsujimoto and colleagues from Ajinomoto Co. have published a paper in Animal Science Journal on GHG reduction and improved sustainability of animal husbandry using amino acids in feeds for pigs and poultry.

In Annex 1 countries, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from pig and poultry excreta have been calculated and the nitrous oxide reduction potential of each country by using amino acids in feed could also be calculated, then a comparison made among the countries.

The nitrous oxide reduction rates were approximately 25 per cent for these Annex 1 countries and amino acids were able to make a large contribution to that reduction.

GHG - which are nitrous oxide combined with methane - were estimated to reduce by 24.8 per cent in Japan when amino acids were introduced into the feed but only a 7.2 per cent reduction was estimated in France.

Purification, which is mainly used for manure treatment in Japan, emits much more nitrous oxide and less methane, whereas the liquid system which is mainly used in France emits more methane and less nitrous oxide based on the emission factors from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change data base.

Changing the French manure treatment system to the Japanese style with amino acids in feed would reduce GHG emissions by 23.4 per cent. Reduction of the arable land use in Japan by changing crop formulations supported by adding amino acids to feed was also quantified as about 10 per cent and led to an increase in the production of meat using the same arable land area.

Reference

^{Tsujimoto S., Takagi T., Osada T. and Ogino A. 2013. Greenhouse gas reduction and improved sustainability of animal husbandry using amino acids in swine, poultry feeds. Anim Sci J. 2013 Jan 9. doi: 10.1111/asj.12024. (Epub ahead of print)}