WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University researchers published a literature review laying out an integrated approach to cut the environmental footprint of ruminant livestock while supporting animal welfare and production. According to the team, the livestock sector is responsible for 18% of emissions globally, and addressing that requires coordination across breeding, nutrition, management and technology rather than a single fix. The review appears in the journal Agriculture and was featured on the cover of a special issue on environmental threats to farm animals.
The interdisciplinary paper synthesizes findings across genetics, nutrition, the rumen microbiome and management, drawing on more than 200+ publications reviewed. Lead author Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira, an assistant professor of animal sciences at Purdue, said the review is meant to be a practical resource for producers, policymakers and industry partners seeking evidence-based strategies to improve efficiency and reduce impacts.
Co-authors include graduate student Yufeng Shang, assistant professor Tingting Ju, postdoc Henrique Mulim-McCarthy and associate professor Jacquelyn Boerman from Animal Sciences, plus assistant professor Upinder Kaur and associate professor Shweta Singh from Agricultural and Biological Engineering and the School of Sustainability and Environmental Engineering. The team emphasizes that farmers must be active partners in research and field trials to ensure innovations are adopted on commercial operations.
Genetics and microbiome
A major focus of the review is the rumen microbiome and its interaction with host genetics. The researchers note that the rumen — home to bacteria, fungi, archaea and protozoa — drives both nutrient conversion and methane production, and emerging studies show host genetics can shape microbiome composition. If those microbiome traits are heritable, selective breeding could improve feed efficiency and lower emissions while raising productivity.
The paper also links feed efficiency to economics and environmental impact, noting that feed is the single largest cost on many livestock operations and is tightly tied to greenhouse gas output and land use. The authors discuss precision tools — from novel sensors to AI that processes large datasets — to monitor animals, optimize diets and detect health or performance issues earlier, which can raise productivity and reduce waste.
Rojas and colleagues call for integrated research programs that pair genetic, nutritional and engineering advances with on-farm testing and producer input. They point to the pace of innovation in genomics, microbiome science and digital monitoring as reasons for cautious optimism about meeting long-term greenhouse gas commitments by midcentury. The study was supported by Purdue’s Elevating the Visibility of Research Initiative, led by the Office of Agricultural Research and Graduate Education and the Executive Vice President for Research.
Image credit: ag.purdue.edu
