Abstract: Animal husbandry significantly contributes to anthropogenic emissions of methane. In this paper, we analyzed current situation and development trend of livestock industry in China and its effect on methane emission, methane formation and structural characteristics, as well as methanogen diversity. Effective mitigation can be achieved via. 1) diet and breed improvement which enhances herd productivity and reduces per livestock methane emission; 2) regulation of per livestock rumen microbial flora and reduction of methanogen and methane emission; 3) use of models of manure disposal that abate methane emission into the atmosphere.