According to a report by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Cattle are the biggest source of greenhouse gases (GHG) accounting for more than three-quarters of all emissions from the global livestock,even though research has proved that GHG emissions from industrial-scale factory farming in rich countries  outweigh small-scale family farming and herding practices in poor countries ,livestock keeping methods in Africa are a key subject.

In recent months, a joint effort by researchers from International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi ,Kenya , and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) , published a study tilted Biomas Use, Production, Feed efficiencies and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Global Livestock Systems in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. The study established a link between high GHG?s, mainly methane and carbon dioxide from livestock to poor livestock management on the continent. The study shows that most livestock in the developed world consume feeds of higher quality in form of concentrates and grains, compared to developing nations where livestock rely mainly on low quality natural pastures and crop residues .

Studies on environmental cost of livestock indicates that cattle bred for meat and daily in some poor countries can emit 100 times more GHGs than those in rich countries for each kilogramme of protein (milk, meat)produced ( Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences(PNAS) also an article by  IRIN(2013) indicates that Cattle grazing in the arid lands of Ethiopia ,Somalia and Sudan, for example can release the equivalent of 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide for every 1kg of protein they produce  Article b IRIN .It is therefore clear that livestock keeping methods have to change ,as population continue to rise and  more people move to the city , the demand for meat and dairy products will increase in developing countries .Therefore investing research in better diets, feeds and feeding techniques can reduce the methane released during digestion as well as amount of methane and other green house gases released in the atmosphere . Scientists have identified several grasses such as Bracharia Sp to help poor countries to reduce their livestock –sector emissions as well as increase their productivity.

Proper management of cattle manure by using it to produce renewable energy such as biogas will reduce GHG emissions as well as cut the farmers cost on energy services mostly in for cooking and heating .Embracing alvernative forms of energy such as  biogas technology among small-scale farmers will increase the forest cover in most countries in Sub-Saharan African countries.