Development of methane conversion factor models for Zebu beef cattle fed low‐quality crop residues and by‐products in tropical regions

The enteric methane conversion factor (Y (m)) is an important country‐specific value for the provision of precise enteric methane emissions inventory reports. The objectives of this meta‐analysis were to develop and evaluate the empirical Y (m) models for the national level and the farm level for tropical developing countries according to the IPCC's categorization. We used datasets derived from 18 in vivo feeding experiments from 1999 to 2015 of Zebu beef cattle breeds fed low‐quality crop residues and by‐products. We found that the observed Y (m) value was 8.2% gross energy (GE) intake (~120 g methane emission head(−1) day(−1)) and ranged from 4.8% to 13.7% GE intake. The IPCC default model (tier 2, Y (m) = 6.5% ± 1.0% GE intake) underestimated the Y (m) values by up to 26.1% compared with its refinement of 8.4% ± 0.4% GE intake for the national‐level estimate. Both the IPCC default model and the refined model performed worse in predicting Y (m) trends at the farm level (root mean square prediction error [MSPE] = 15.1%–23.1%, concordance correlation coefficient [CCC] = 0.16–0.18, R (2) = .32). Seven of the extant Y (m) models based on a linear regression approach also showed inaccurately estimated Y (m) values (root MSPE = 16.2%–36.0%, CCC = 0.02–0.27, R (2) < .37). However, one of the developed models, which related to the complexity of the energy use efficiencies of the diet consumed to Y (m), showed adequate accuracy at the farm level (root MSPE = 9.1%, CCC = 0.75, R (2) = .67). Our results thus suggest a new Y (m) model and future challenges for estimating Zebu beef cattle production in tropical developing countries.