Animal feed manufacturers have been urged to consider using more rapeseed in their products.
A new study for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), conducted by Reading University, has discovered that changing the diets of British animals can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Farming accounts for 41 per cent of the UK's methane production, while the research shows that feeding cows a rapeseed-based diet can reduce methane emissions by 20 per cent.
In addition, the study proved that feeding sheep naked oats can reduce their emissions by 33 per cent.
Agriculture minister Jim Paice insisted that the government is looking to help the farming industry reduce greenhouse gas production.
"It is very exciting that this new research has discovered that by simply changing the way we feed farm animals, we have the potential to make a big difference to the environment," he added.
Farmers Guardian reported last week that a shift to hybrid seeds has seen a sharp increase in the amount of winter rapeseed sown in the last six months.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the animal feed industry includes:
