Decreasing methane emissions from ruminants grazing forages: a fit with productive and financial realities?

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pacheco ◽  
Garry Waghorn ◽  
Peter H. Janssen
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Methane Reduction ◽  
Dietary Strategies

Ruminants contribute to human food supply and also anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An understanding of production systems and information on animal populations has enabled global inventories of ruminant GHG emissions (methane and nitrous oxide), and dietary strategies are being developed to reduce GHG emissions from ruminants. Mitigation strategies need to consider the management/feeding systems used to ensure that these strategies will be readily accepted and adopted by farmers. Housed systems allow diets to be formulated in ways that may reduce GHG production, but the challenge is much greater for systems where animals graze outdoors for long periods. A methane mitigation option in the form of fresh forage would be desirable in livestock production systems with high reliance on grazing. A brief summary of New Zealand research, carried out on fresh grasses, legumes, herbs and crops, suggest that we have an incomplete understanding of the feed characteristics that define a ‘high’ or a ‘low’ methane feed. The variation in methane emissions measured between feeds, individual animals and experiment is large, even in controlled conditions, and the dynamic nature of sward-animal interactions will only exacerbate this variation, creating challenges beyond the identification of mitigants. Furthermore, implementation of knowledge gained from controlled studies requires validation under grazing systems to identify any trade-offs between methane reduction and animal productivity or emission of other pollutants. Therefore, investment and research should be targeted at mitigation options that can and will be adopted on-farm, and the characteristics of temperate grasslands farming suggest that these options may differ from those for intensive (high input/output) or extensive (low input/output) systems.

Methane Emissions Reduction Solutions: Product Development and Standardization

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Garceau ◽  
Amar Jawalkar ◽  
Ryan McKennon ◽  
Christopher Moffatt ◽  
Anthony Pocengal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Blow Down ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Process Gas ◽  
Natural Gas Industry ◽  
Methane Reduction ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The Oil & Gas industry and environmental agencies around the world are working to find solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A comprehensive study by the US EPA found that emissions from compressor stations, blow down and purge, accounted for 97.7 Bscf or just over 31% of the total methane emissions attributed to the Natural Gas industry. [1] With methane (CH4) having 25 times the impact on global warming compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), and global legislation like the Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Methane and Certain Volatile Organic Compounds Upstream Oil and Gas Sector (or also called Canadian Methane Rule) and regional methane reduction regulations, developing solutions to further mitigate methane emissions from process gas vents and centrifugal gas compressor seals becomes necessary as the industry moves towards near-zero targets. This paper addresses the design requirements and selection of a process gas vent recapture system and primary dry seal vent recapture system. In addition, this paper will review the design consideration during the design phase to the data collected during site operation.

A review of whole farm-system analysis in evaluating greenhouse-gas mitigation strategies from livestock production systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Rawnsley ◽  
Robyn A. Dynes ◽  
Karen M. Christie ◽  
Matthew Tom Harrison ◽  
Natalie A. Doran-Browne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
System Level ◽  
Food Demand ◽  
Ghg Mitigation ◽  
Farm System ◽  
Global Food

Recognition is increasingly given to the need of improving agricultural production and efficiency to meet growing global food demand, while minimising environmental impacts. Livestock forms an important component of global food production and is a significant contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. As such, livestock production systems (LPS) are coming under increasing pressure to lower their emissions. In developed countries, LPS have been gradually reducing their emissions per unit of product (emissions intensity; EI) over time through improvements in production efficiency. However, the global challenge of reducing net emissions (NE) from livestock requires that the rate of decline in EI surpasses the productivity increases required to satisfy global food demand. Mechanistic and dynamic whole farm-system models can be used to estimate farm-gate GHG emissions and to quantify the likely changes in farm NE, EI, farm productivity and farm profitability as a result of applying various mitigation strategies. Such models are also used to understand the complex interactions at the farm-system level and to account for how component mitigation strategies perform within the complexity of these interactions, which is often overlooked when GHG mitigation research is performed only at the component level. The results of such analyses can be used in extension activities and to encourage adoption, increase awareness and in assisting policy makers. The present paper reviews how whole farm-system modelling has been used to assess GHG mitigation strategies, and the importance of understanding metrics and allocation approaches when assessing GHG emissions from LPS.

scholarly journals Strategies for Sustainable Substitution of Livestock Meat

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1227
Author(s):  
Guihun Jiang ◽  
Kashif Ameer ◽  
Honggyun Kim ◽  
Eun-Jung Lee ◽  
Karna Ramachandraiah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Consumption Patterns ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
By Products

The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly discernible everywhere, and initiatives have been taken worldwide to mitigate climate change. In agriculture, particularly meat production from the livestock sector is known to contribute to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that drive climate change. Thus, to mitigate climate impact, strategies that include a shift in consumption patterns, technological advancements and reduction in food wastes/losses have been discussed. In this review, strategies that focus on meat consumption patterns are evaluated from the technological feasibility, environmental impact and consumer acceptance viewpoints. While plant-based substitutes have efficient nutrient conversion and lower GHG emissions, consumer perception, cost, and other trade-offs exist. Although cultured meat precludes the need of any animals and large land areas, its environmental impact is not clear and is contingent upon production systems and the achievement of decarbonization. Reducing wastes and the re-use of meat processing by-products have the potential to lower the environmental impact. Valuable proteins, heat, electricity and biofuels extracted from wastes and by-products not only reduce the disposal of wastes but also offset some GHG emissions. Perception related challenges that exist for all substitution strategies require specific consumer target marketing strategies. Policy measures such as taxation of meat products and subsidies for alternatives are also met with challenges, thereby requiring reforms or new policies.

Greenhouse-gas mitigation potential of agro-industrial by-products in the diet of dairy goats in Spain: a life-cycle perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 646 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Pardo ◽  
I. Martin-Garcia ◽  
A. Arco ◽  
D. R. Yañez-Ruiz ◽  
R. Moral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Dairy Goat ◽  
Enteric Fermentation ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Dietary Strategies ◽  
By Products

Goat milk production is an important agricultural resource in the Mediterranean basin. Market demands and scarcity of pastures during drought periods has led to farms becoming more intensive and based on imported concentrate feeds. The use of alternative feedstuffs from agro-industry can help decrease dependence on external concentrates, while preventing the environmental issues associated with livestock production and by-product disposal. From a life-cycle assessment perspective, we investigated the change on greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions of replacing a conventional dairy goat diet in southern Spain with two alternative dietary strategies, including tomato waste or olive by-products silages. The effect on enteric methane emissions and milk productivity was assessed through specific feeding trials. Experimental data were integrated within a modelling framework comprising different submodels to describe the farm system and associated production chain. A new model describing carbon and nitrogen losses from solid waste was applied to estimate the emissions associated with the baseline scenarios for food by-product management. The assessment revealed that the two dietary strategies achieve GHG reductions (~12–19% per kg milk). In both cases, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from crop production were partially reduced through the displacement of typical concentrate ingredients. An additional mitigation effect was obtained when including tomato wastes in the diet because it reduced the methane emissions from enteric fermentation. Results suggested that use of agro-industrial residues for feeding is a feasible mitigation option in this case. However, as organic by-products could have alternative uses (bioenergy, soil amendment), with different implications for land use and soil carbon stocks, a more complete overview of both scenarios is recommended. Potential trade-offs from non-GHG categories may play an important role in a decision-making process.

scholarly journals Trade-Offs between Agricultural Production, GHG Emissions and Income in a Changing Climate, Technology, and Food Demand Scenario

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3190
Author(s):  
Paresh B. Shirsath ◽  
Pramod K. Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Emission Intensity ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Food Demand ◽  
Allocation Model ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Unit Scale ◽  
Demand Scenario

Climate-smart agriculture targets integrated adaptation and mitigation strategies for delivering food security and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. This study outlines a methodology to identify the trade-offs between food production, emissions, and income under technology and food demand-shift scenario and climate change. The methodology uses Climate Smart Agricultural Prioritization (CSAP) toolkit a multi-objective land-use allocation model, and detailed databases, characterizing the agricultural production processes at the land-unit scale. A case study has also been demonstrated for Bihar, a state in India. The quantification of trade-offs demonstrates that under different technology growth pathways alone the food self-sufficiency for Bihar cannot be achieved whilst the reduction in emission intensity targets are achievable up to 2040. However, both food self-sufficiency and reduction in emission intensity can be achieved if we relax constraints on dietary demand and focus on kilo-calories maximization targets. The district-level analysis shows that food self-sufficiency and reduction in emission intensity targets can be achieved at a local scale through efficient crop-technology portfolios.

Mitigation strategies for greenhouse gas emissions from animal production systems: synergy between measuring and modelling at different scales

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. van Groenigen ◽  
R. L. M. Schils ◽  
G. L. Velthof ◽  
P. J. Kuikman ◽  
D. A. Oudendag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Environmental Policies ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Nitrogen Surplus ◽  
Farm Scale ◽  
Animal Production Systems

Animal production systems are large and complex sources of greenhouse gases (GHG), especially nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). Emissions from these systems are expected to rise over the coming decades due to the increasing global population and shifting diets, unless appropriate mitigation strategies are implemented. In this paper, we argue that the main constraints for such implementation are: (i) the complex and often poorly understood controls of GHG sources in animal production systems; (ii) the lack of knowledge on the economic and social costs involved in implementing mitigation strategies; and (iii) the strong political emphasis on mitigating nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilisation, rather than GHG emissions. We further argue that overcoming these three constraints can only be achieved by initiating integrated mitigation strategies, based on modelling and experimental work at three scales. At the ‘laboratory and field scale’, basic causal relationships with respect to processes of GHG formation and other detrimental fluxes need to be experimentally established and modelled. As management options are considered at the ‘farm scale’, this is the ideal scale to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, feasibility and possible pollution swapping effects of mitigation measures. Finally, at the ‘national and supra-national scales’, environmental legislation is implemented, effectiveness of environmental policies and emissions abatement measures are being monitored, and the social costs of various scenarios are being weighed. We illustrate the need for integral measures and working across different scales using our own work on the relationship between nitrogen surplus and fluxes to the environment. At the field scale, a clear positive relation between nitrogen surplus and N2O emission, NO3– leaching and NH3 volatilisation was experimentally established. At the farm scale, the model DAIRYWISE was used to evaluate effects of minimising nitrogen surplus on the nutrient flow and economic viability of an average Dutch dairy farm. Even after including trade-off effects of CH4 emissions from cattle and manure storage, there was still a clear positive relationship between farm gate nitrogen surplus and GHG emission. At this scale, the prime issue was balancing environmental gains with economic viability. Finally, at the ‘national and supra-national scale’ we developed the MITERRA-EUROPE model, and used it to quantify the effects on GHG emissions of environmental policies aimed at reducing NO3– leaching and NH3 volatilisation in the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU-27). This showed the intricate relationship between different environmental goals, with both positive feedback (balanced fertilisation reduced both NO3– leaching and N2O emission) and negative feedback (‘low-emission’ manure application reduced NH3 volatilisation but increased N2O emission) possible. At this scale, there is a clear need for an integral approach towards reducing environmental assessment to the environment. Our studies so far suggest that ‘balanced fertilisation’ is among the most promising mitigation measures for simultaneously lowering N2O emission, NO3– leaching and NH3 volatilisation, without pollution swapping to CH4 emission.

scholarly journals CH4 and N2O Emissions From Cattle Excreta: A Review of Main Drivers and Mitigation Strategies in Grazing Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julián Esteban Rivera ◽  
Julian Chará
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Reduce Emissions ◽  
Ch4 And N2o

Cattle production systems are an important source of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted to the atmosphere. Animal manure and managed soils are the most important sources of emissions from livestock after enteric methane. It is estimated that the N2O and CH4 produced in grasslands and manure management systems can contribute up to 25% of the emissions generated at the farm level, and therefore it is important to identify strategies to reduce the fluxes of these gases, especially in grazing systems where mitigation strategies have received less attention. This review describes the main factors that affect the emission of GHG from manure in bovine systems and the main strategies for their mitigation with emphasis on grazing production systems. The emissions of N2O and CH4 are highly variable and depend on multiple factors, which makes it difficult to use strategies that mitigate both gases simultaneously. We found that strategies such as the optimization of the diet, the implementation of silvopastoral systems and other practices with the capacity to improve soil quality and cover, and the use of nitrogen fixing plants are among the practices with more potential to reduce emissions from manure and at the same time contribute to increase carbon capture and improve food production. These strategies can be implemented to reduce the emissions of both gases and, depending on the method used and the production system, the reductions can reach up to 50% of CH4 or N2O emissions from manure according to different studies. However, many research gaps should be addressed in order to obtain such reductions at a larger scale.

68 Utility of 3-NOP in Beef Production Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 132-133
Author(s):  
Karen A Beauchemin
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Net Zero

Abstract Ruminant production systems need to embrace the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to be in sync with other sectors of society that are adopting net-zero emission goals. The major greenhouse gas from ruminants is enteric methane, which contributes 3% to 5% of total global greenhouse gases. A broad range of potential mitigation strategies has been proposed to decrease methane emissions from ruminants. One promising strategy is the investigational methane inhibitor 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP; DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Kaiseraugst, Switzerland), which when fed to beef cattle, has decreased methane yield (g methane/kg dry matter intake) by 20% to 80%, depending upon the diet composition and dose. Furthermore, the decrease in methane production persists over several months. 3-NOP reduces methanogenesis in the rumen by inactivating the enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase used by archaea. 3-NOP is most effective when incorporated into a total mixed ration. Some advantages of 3-NOP are: only a small dose is required (1–2 g/d); no negative effects on digestibility, animal health or carcass characteristics; rapid degradation to compounds naturally occurring in the rumen (e.g., nitrate, nitrite and 1,3-propanediol); sustained efficacy over time; and risk assessments indicate residues in meat and milk are unlikely. However, 3-NOP is not yet approved for commercial use. Research studies in small pens indicate up to 5% improvement in gain:feed ratio for backgrounding and finishing cattle, although recently completed studies at a commercial feedlot indicate improvements in feed conversion may be less. This presentation will highlight the current findings of beef cattle research using 3-NOP to decrease methane emissions, with emphasis on its potential for decreasing the carbon footprint of beef.

scholarly journals Income and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission trade-offs on smallholder farms at two sites in northern Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-355
Author(s):  
Taiwo Ayinde ◽  
◽  
Charles Nicholson ◽  
Benjamin Ahmed ◽  
Augustine Ayantunde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Northern Nigeria ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Optimisation Model ◽  
Legume Production

This study analyses the trade-offs between welfare (measured by income) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using a farm-level optimisation model that incorporates the predominant cereal (sorghum), legumes (groundnut, soybeans), livestock (cattle, goats and sheep) and trees (locust bean, camel’s foot) representative of production systems at two contrasting sites in northern Nigeria. The optimisation model maximises the value of total farm production, subject to constraints on GHG reductions of 10%, 25% and the maximum reductions that allow households to meet minimum consumption requirements. Substantive reductions in livestock and legume production would be required to achieve the maximum possible reductions from current emissions and would reduce household income by 22% and 44%, respectively. Under current production practices, reductions in GHG emissions reduce household income, which suggests the need for further research on productivity-enhancing technologies that could both enhance income and reduce GHG emissions in these production contexts.

scholarly journals Challenges and opportunities for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions through dairy cattle research in developing countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
Sineka Munidasa ◽  
Richard Eckard ◽  
Xuezhao Sun ◽  
Brendan Cullen ◽  
David McGill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Dairy Production ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Emission Estimation

AbstractThe global dairy sector is facing the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions whilst increasing productivity to feed a growing population. Despite the importance of this challenge, many developing countries do not have the required resources, specifically funding, expertise and facilities, for quantifying GHG emissions from dairy production and research. This paper aims to address this challenge by discussing the magnitude of the issue, potential mitigation approaches and benefits in quantifying GHG emissions in a developing country context. Further, the paper explores the opportunities for developing country dairy scientists to leverage resources from developed countries, such as using existing relevant GHG emission estimation models. It is clear that further research is required to support developing countries to quantify and understand GHG emissions from dairy production, as it brings significant benefits including helping to identify and implement appropriate mitigation strategies for local production systems, trading carbon credits and achieving the nationally determined contribution obligations of the Paris Agreement.

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