Animals, especially those bred for food, contribute significantly to climate change.

A new, international research study estimated that greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions related to livestock in 237 countries rose by 51 percent in a span of close to 50 years. It said livestock-related emissions in developing countries accounted for most of this increase.

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The study also found that beef cattle is responsible for far more GhG emissions than other types of animals.

Researchers expect total GhG emissions from livestock to increase further since demand for meat, dairy products and eggs is estimated to double by 2050.

Carbon dioxide is the gas most responsible for climate change. Two other gases, methane and nitrous oxide, are also GhGs and are responsible for 28 percent of global warming activity.

Methane and nitrous oxide are also released by livestock. Animals release methane from their digestive system while nitrous oxide is emitted from decomposing animal manure.

Both two gases are responsible for a quarter of non-carbon dioxide gas emissions and nine percent of total GhG emissions.

The study said beef and dairy cattle accounted for 74 percent of livestock-related GhG emissions. Of this amount, 54 percent came from beef cattle and 17 percent from dairy cattle.

Apart from an abundance of cows, this preponderance is also caused by cattle emitting greater quantities of methane and nitrous oxide than other animals.

Sheep accounted for nine percent, buffalo seven percent, pigs five percent and goats four percent of livestock-related GhG emissions.

GhG emissions from livestock in developing countries is expected to increase, said the study. On the other hand, emissions in developed countries reached maximum livestock emissions in the 1970s and have continued to decrease. 

"The developing world is getting better at reducing greenhouse emissions caused by each animal, but this improvement is not keeping up with the increasing demand for meat," said Dario Caro, formerly of Carnegie Institution for Science and now at the University of Siena in Italy and a member of the research team.

"As a result, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock keep going up and up in much of the developing world."

The research study was published in the journal, Climatic Change.