Carbon Footprint of Lamb and Wool Production at Farm Gate and the Regional Scale in Southern Patagonia

Natural steppe grasslands are the principal food resource for sheep in the Patagonia region, reared for meat and wool. However, there is currently a concern about the relationship between ruminant livestock and climate change due to its contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this study was to determine the carbon footprints (CF) of sheep meat (lamb) and wool on a range of farms using empirical data collected on farm and then upscaled to the regional scale using models that use topographic, climatic, and vegetation indices as independent variables. At the regional level, the total CF of lamb and wool (the combination of emissions produced on farm, via transport, and via industrial processing) varied from 10.64 to 41.32 kg CO2-eq/kg for lamb meat (carcass) and from 7.83 to 18.70 kg CO2-eq/kg for fine-grade wool. For both, the predominant contribution was from primary production on-farm (75–90%), followed by industrial processing (2–15%), and transportation. We used multiple regression models to produce maps of lamb and wool CF at farm gate across Santa Cruz province. The model for variation of lamb CF explained 95% of the variance on the data and the most significant predictor variables were temperature seasonality and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI, dimensionless). The most important variables for the model of CF of greasy wool production at farm gate were isothermality, temperature seasonality, and NDVI explained 98%. The lowest CF values of both products (lamb and wool) were located in more productive grasslands. The successful management of livestock GHG emissions becomes an important challenge to the scientific, commercial, and policy communities. The results of CF for lamb and wool production found in the present work assist in characterizing the greenhouse gas emissions profile of livestock products in Southern Patagonia by providing a baseline against which mitigation actions can be planned and progress monitored.

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Lamb and Wool Provisioning Ecosystem Services in Southern Patagonia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158544 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8544

Author(s):

Pablo Luis Peri ◽

Yamina M. Rosas ◽

Emilio Rivera ◽

Guillermo Martínez Pastur

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Food Resource ◽

Data Availability ◽

Santa Cruz ◽

Wool Production ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Southern Patagonia ◽

Provisioning Ecosystem Services ◽

Temperature Seasonality

In Southern Patagonia, grasslands are the principal food resource for sheep reared for meat and wool as the main provisioning ecosystem services (ES). The main objective of this study was to model lamb and wool production as provisioning ES at a regional scale using climatic, topographic, and vegetation variables from sheep farms across Santa Cruz province. At a regional level, animal yield ranged from 0.25 to 0.69 g lamb/m2/yr and 0.10 to 0.19 g greasy wool/m2/yr. We used multiple regression models to produce maps of lamb and wool provisioning ES across Santa Cruz province. The model for variation of lamb production explained 96% of the variance in the data and the most significant predictor variables were temperature seasonality, normalized vegetation index (NVDI, dimensionless), and desertification index. The most important variables for the model of greasy wool production were isothermality, temperature seasonality, and NVDI, which together explained 98% of the variance. The lowest CF values of both products (lamb and wool) were located in more productive grasslands. There were differences in lamb and wool production across vegetation types with the highest values being located in more productive grasslands (0.51 g lamb/m2/yr in Nothofagus antarctica forest and 0.15 g greasy wool/m2/yr in Magellanic grass steppe and N. antarctica). Lamb and greasy wool yields decreased with desertification gradient due to erosion processes. The main limitation of the model is related to the data availability at landscape level, which must be improved in future studies by accounting for soil type, fertility, and soil water content. The results of lamb and wool production found in the present work assist in characterizing the provisioning ES ecosystem of livestock products in Southern Patagonia. The successful management of livestock becomes an important challenge to the commercial and policy communities to satisfy society’s need for food and wool products under sustainable grassland management.

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Greenhouse gas emission reductions in subtropical cereal-based cropping sequences using legumes, DMPP-coated urea and split timings of urea application

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr18108 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (7) ◽

pp. 724 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Graeme D. Schwenke ◽

Philippa M. Brock ◽

Bruce M. Haigh ◽

David F. Herridge

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽

Nitrification Inhibitor ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Life Cycle Assessments ◽

Ch4 Emissions ◽

Ghg Reduction ◽

Coated Urea ◽

On Farm

To contribute to national greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction targets, grain growers need strategies that minimise emissions associated with grain production. We used life cycle assessments (LCAs) with field-measured production inputs, grain yields and proteins, legume nitrogen (N2) fixation, and soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions, to explore mitigation strategies in 3-year crop sequences in subtropical Australia. The sequences were: canola plus 80 kg/ha fertiliser nitrogen (80N)–wheat 85N–barley 65N (CaNWtNBaN), chickpea 0N–wheat 85N–barley 5N (CpWtNBa), chickpea 0N–wheat 5N–chickpea 5N (CpWtCp), and chickpea 0N–sorghum 45N (CpSgN). We also assessed the impacts of split fertiliser N application and urea coated with DMPP, a nitrification inhibitor, on the LCA for the CaNWtNBaN sequence. Total pre-farm plus on-farm GHG emissions varied between 915 CO2-e/ha (CpSgN) and 1890 CO2-e/ha (CaNWtNBaN). Cumulative N2O emitted over the 3-year study varied between 0.479 kg N2O-N/ha (CpWtCp) and 1.400 kg N2O-N/ha (CaNWtNBaN), which constituted 24–44% of total GHG emissions. Fertiliser production accounted for 20% (CpSgN) to 30% (CaNWtNBaN) of total emissions. An extra 4.7 kg CO2-e/ha was emitted for each additional kg N/ha of applied N fertiliser. Three-year CH4 emissions ranged from −1.04 to −0.98 kg CH4-C/ha. Split N and DMPP strategies could reduce total GHG emissions of CaNWtNBaN by 17 and 28% respectively. Results of the study indicate considerable scope for reducing the carbon footprint of subtropical, dryland grains cropping in Australia.

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Modelling Soil Carbon Content in South Patagonia and Evaluating Changes According to Climate, Vegetation, Desertification and Grazing

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10020438 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 438 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Pablo Peri ◽

Yamina Rosas ◽

Brenton Ladd ◽

Santiago Toledo ◽

Romina Lasagno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Monitoring Network ◽

Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Erosion Processes ◽

Precipitation Seasonality ◽

Southern Patagonia

In Southern Patagonia, a long-term monitoring network has been established to assess bio-indicators as an early warning of environmental changes due to climate change and human activities. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content in rangelands provides a range of important ecosystem services and supports the capacity of the land to sustain plant and animal productivity. The objectives in this study were to model SOC (30 cm) stocks at a regional scale using climatic, topographic and vegetation variables, and to establish a baseline that can be used as an indicator of rangeland condition. For modelling, we used a stepwise multiple regression to identify variables that explain SOC variation at the landscape scale. With the SOC model, we obtained a SOC map for the entire Santa Cruz province, where the variables derived from the multiple linear regression models were integrated into a geographic information system (GIS). SOC stock to 30 cm ranged from 1.38 to 32.63 kg C m−2. The fitted model explained 76.4% of SOC variation using as independent variables isothermality, precipitation seasonality and vegetation cover expressed as a normalized difference vegetation index. The SOC map discriminated in three categories (low, medium, high) determined patterns among environmental and land use variables. For example, SOC decreased with desertification due to erosion processes. The understanding and mapping of SOC in Patagonia contributes as a bridge across main issues such as climate change, desertification and biodiversity conservation.

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The effect of earlier mating and improving fertility on greenhouse gas emissions intensity of beef production in northern Australian herds

The Rangeland Journal ◽

10.1071/rj15063 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 283 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

B. R. Cullen ◽

R. J. Eckard ◽

M. Timms ◽

D. G. Phelps

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Beef Production ◽

Beef Industry ◽

Gross Margin ◽

Emissions Intensity ◽

On Farm ◽

Margin Analysis

Approximately 5% of Australian national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are derived from the northern beef industry. Improving the reproductive performance of cows has been identified as a key target for increasing profitability, and this higher efficiency is also likely to reduce the GHG emissions intensity of beef production. The effects of strategies to increase the fertility of breeding herds and earlier joining of heifers as yearlings were studied on two properties at Longreach and Boulia in western Queensland. The beef production, GHG emissions, emissions intensity and profitability were investigated and compared with typical management in the two regions. Overall weaning rates achieved on the two properties were 79% and 74% compared with typical herd weaning rates of 58% in both regions. Herds with high reproductive performance had GHG emissions intensities (t CO2-e t–1 liveweight sold) 28% and 22% lower than the typical herds at Longreach and Boulia, with most of the benefit from higher weaning rates. Farm gross margin analysis showed that it was more profitable, by $62 000 at Longreach and $38 000 at Boulia, to utilise higher reproductive performance to increase the amount of liveweight sold with the same number of adult equivalents compared with reducing the number of adult equivalents to maintain the same level of liveweight sold and claiming a carbon credit for lower farm emissions. These gains achieved at two case study properties which had different rainfall, country types, and property sizes suggest similar improvements can be made on-farm across the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion of northern Australia.

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Revised greenhouse-gas emissions from Australian dairy farms following application of updated methodology

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16286 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 937 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. M. Christie ◽

R. P. Rawnsley ◽

C. Phelps ◽

R. J. Eckard

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Emission Intensity ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Enteric Fermentation ◽

On Farm ◽

The Impact

Every year since 1990, the Australian Federal Government has estimated national greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to meet Australia’s reporting commitments under the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) methodology used to estimate Australia’s GHG emissions has altered over time, as new research data have been used to improve the inventory emission factors and algorithms, with the latest change occurring in 2015 for the 2013 reporting year. As measuring the GHG emissions on farm is expensive and time-consuming, the dairy industry is reliant on estimating emissions using tools such as the Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator (ADCC). The present study compared the emission profiles of 41 Australian dairy farms with ADCC using the old (pre-2015) and new (post-2015) NGGI methodologies to examine the impact of the changes on the emission intensity across a range of dairy-farm systems. The estimated mean (±s.d.) GHG emission intensity increased by 3.0%, to 1.07 (±0.02) kg of carbon dioxide equivalents per kilogram of fat-and-protein-corrected milk (kg CO2e/kg FPCM). When comparing the emission intensity between the old and new NGGI methodologies at a regional level, the change in emission intensity varied between a 4.6% decrease and 10.4% increase, depending on the region. When comparing the source of emissions between old and new NGGI methodologies across the whole dataset, methane emissions from enteric fermentation and waste management both increased, while nitrous oxide emissions from waste management and nitrogen fertiliser management, CO2 emissions from energy consumption and pre-farm gate (supplementary feed and fertilisers) emissions all declined. Enteric methane remains a high source of emissions and so will remain a focus for mitigation research. However, these changes to the NGGI methodology have highlighted a new ‘hotspot’ in methane from manure management. Researchers and farm managers will have greater need to identify and implement practices on-farm to reduce methane losses to the environment.

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Sheep greenhouse gas emission intensities under different management practices, climate zones and enterprise types

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an15327 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 507 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

D. J. Cottle ◽

M. T. Harrison ◽

A. Ghahramani

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Management Practices ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Animal Breeding ◽

Aboveground Net Primary Productivity ◽

Pasture Management ◽

Climate Zones ◽

Wool Production

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from broadacre sheep farms constitute ~16% of Australia’s total livestock emissions. To study the diversity of Australian sheep farming enterprises a combination of modelling packages was used to calculate GHG emissions from three sheep enterprises (Merino ewe production for wool and meat, Merino-cross ewes with an emphasis on lamb production, and Merino wethers for fine wool production) at 28 sites across eight climate zones in southern Australia. GHG emissions per ha, per dry sheep equivalents and emissions intensity (EI) per tonne of clean wool or liveweight sold under different pasture management or animal breeding options (that had been previously determined in interviews with farmers) were assessed relative to baseline farms in each zone (‘Nil’ option). Increasing soil phosphorus fertility or sowing 40% of the farm area to lucerne resulted in the smallest and largest changes in GHG/dry sheep equivalents, respectively (–66%, 113%), though both of these options had little influence on EI for either clean wool or liveweight sold. Breeding ewes with greater body size or genotypes with higher fleece weight resulted in 11% and 9% reductions, respectively, in EI. Enterprises specialising in lamb production (crossbred ewes) had 89% lower EI than enterprises specialising in fine wool production (Merino wethers). Thus, sheep producers aiming for lower EI could focus more on liveweight turnoff than wool production. Emissions intensities were typically highest in cool temperate regions with high rainfall and lowest in semiarid and arid regions with low aboveground net primary productivity. Overall, animal breeding options reduced EI more than feedbase interventions.

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Using the OVERSEER nutrient budget model to estimate on-farm greenhouse gas emissions

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea07250 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 99 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

D. M. Wheeler ◽

S. F. Ledgard ◽

C. A. M. DeKlein

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Management Practices ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Nutrient Budget ◽

N Leaching ◽

Emission Model ◽

Ghg Emission ◽

Budget Model ◽

Wide Range ◽

On Farm

The OVERSEER nutrient budget model is a farm-scale nutrient reporting and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission accounting tool used extensively throughout New Zealand (NZ) by farmers, farm consultants and fertiliser representatives. The model is increasingly being used as a tool for implementing regional council resource management requirements to limit nitrogen (N) and phosphorus losses to waterways. NZ’s main dairy company, Fonterra, also requires dairy farmers to have a nutrient budget as part of the national Clean Streams Accord. This means that a high proportion of NZ farmers can obtain reports of their on-farm GHG emission profile. The GHG emission model is based on models and algorithms used for the NZ GHG national inventory, modified to include a wide range of on-farm management practices. The model estimates methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and presents the results as CO2 equivalents. This paper describes the model and the benefits of combining nutrients budgets and GHG emissions into a single model. It also demonstrates the effects of management practices on a range of outputs, including N leaching and GHG emissions.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Beef Grazing Systems in Semi-Arid Rangelands of Central Argentina

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10114228 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 4228 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

María Nieto ◽

Olivia Barrantes ◽

Liliana Privitello ◽

Ramón Reiné

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Management Practices ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Farm Management ◽

Forage Crops ◽

Central Argentina ◽

Arid Rangelands ◽

On Farm ◽

The Relationship ◽

Semi Arid

The livestock sector can be a major contributor to the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Within the sector, beef production produces the largest proportion of the livestock sector’s direct emissions. The objective of this study was to assess the on-farm GHG emissions in semi-arid rangelands in Argentina and to identify the relationship between emissions and current farm management practices. A survey recorded detailed information on farm management and characteristics. Assessments of GHG emissions were based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 protocols. The relationship between farm management and GHG emissions were identified using general linear models. Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of farms that differed from others in emissions and farm characteristics. Emissions per product sold were low on farms that had improved livestock care management, rotational grazing, received technical advice, and had high animal and land productivities. Emissions per hectare of farmland were low on farms that had low stocking rates, a low number of grazing paddocks, little or no land dedicated to improved pastures and forage crops, and low land productivity. Our results suggest that the implementation of realistic, relatively easy-to-adopt farming management practices has considerable potential for mitigating the GHG emissions in the semi-arid rangelands of central Argentina.

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On-farm greenhouse gas emissions and water use: case studies in the Queensland beef industry

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an11030 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 51 (8) ◽

pp. 667 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Sandra Eady ◽

James Viner ◽

Justin MacDonnell

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Water Use ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Blue Water ◽

Beef Production ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Climate Change Research ◽

On Farm

In response to climate change, research is being undertaken to understand the on-farm greenhouse gas emissions and water use for agricultural systems and investigate options farmers may have for mitigating or offsetting emissions. In the present study, a life cycle assessment framework is used to determine on-farm GHG emissions and water use, and the overall ‘cradle-to-farm gate’ GHG emissions and water use attributed to beef production. The total on-farm emissions for the two properties were 2984 t CO2-e/year (or 1.93 t CO2-e/livestock unit) for the 634-cow enterprise turning off weaner cattle at Gympie and 5725 t CO2-e/year (or 1.70 t CO2-e/livestock unit) for the 720-cow enterprise turning off finished steers in the Arcadia Valley. The on-farm emissions are largely attributable to enteric methane emissions from the beef herd. The overall ‘cradle-to-farm gate’ GHG emissions associated with enterprise products were 3145 t CO2-e/year at Gympie and 7253 t CO2-e/year in the Arcadia Valley, with the additional emissions coming from off-farm inputs (fuel for farm vehicles and earth-moving equipment, electricity, supplementary feed, agricultural chemicals, farm services) and additionally, for the Arcadia Valley enterprise, from purchased store steers. The carbon footprint of beef products at the farm gate ranged from 17.5 to 22.9 kg CO2-e/kg liveweight at Gympie, where wearers are the primary product, and from 11.6 to 15.5 kg CO2-e/kg liveweight in the Arcadia Valley, where finished steers are the primary product. Green water use ranged from 7400 to 12 700 L/kg liveweight depending on class of livestock, with on-farm blue water use of 51–96 L/kg liveweight and off-farm blue water use of 0.1–59 L/kg liveweight. The ability to offset on-farm GHG emissions through reforestation varied between the two locations, with predicted biosequestration rates of 19.3–34.7 t CO2-e/ha per year at Gympie (rainfall 1200 mm/year) from eucalypt plantation and 1.5–9.8 t CO2-e/ha per year in the Arcadia Valley (rainfall 600 mm/year) through reforestation from a combination of brigalow regrowth, leucaena and environmental eucalypt plantings. The area that would need to be reforested to offset on-farm emissions (over a 30-year time horizon) would be 86–155 ha at Gympie (7–13% of the holding) and 629–4108 ha in the Arcadia Valley (9–60%). If carbon sequestration could be achieved at the higher end of the rates nominated, a significant proportion of on-farm emissions could be offset by sequestration in timber, with minimal impact on beef production. However, at the lower end of the forest sequestration range, the required level of land-use change would reduce the carrying capacity, and hence beef production, especially at the Arcadia Valley site.

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Eco-efficient agriculture for producing higher yields with lower greenhouse gas emissions: a case study of intensive irrigation wheat production in China

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-10-16879-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 16879-16902 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Z. L. Cui ◽

Y. L. Ye ◽

W. Q. Ma ◽

X. P. Chen ◽

F. S. Zhang

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Yield Response ◽

Ghg Emission ◽

Scientific Attention ◽

On Farm

Abstract. Although the concept of producing higher yields with reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a goal that attracts increasing public and scientific attention, the tradeoff between crop productivity and GHG emissions in intensive agricultural production is not well understood. In this study, we investigated 33 sites of on-farm experiments to evaluate the tradeoff between grain yield and GHG emissions using two systems (conventional practice, CP; high-yielding systems, HY) of intensive irrigation wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in China. Furthermore, we discussed the potential to produce higher yields with lower GHG emissions based on a survey of 2938 farmers. However, in both the HY and CP systems, wheat grain yield response to GHG emissions fit a linear-plateau model, whereas the curve for grain yield from the HY system was always higher than that from the CP system. Compared to the CP system, grain yield was 44% (2.6 Mg ha–1) higher in the HY system, while GHG emissions increased by only 2.5%, and GHG emission intensity was reduced by 29%. The current intensive irrigation wheat system with farmers' practice had a median yield and maximum GHG emission rate of 6.05 Mg ha–1 and 4783 kg CO2 eq ha–1, respectively; however, this system can be transformed to maintain yields while reducing GHG emissions by 40% (5.96 Mg ha–1, and 2890 kg CO2 eq ha–1). Further, the HY system was found to increase grain yield by 41% with a simultaneous reduction in GHG emissions by 38% (8.55 Mg ha–1, and 2961 kg CO2 eq ha–1, respectively). In the future, we suggest moving the tradeoff relationships and calculations from grain yield and GHG emissions, to new measures of productivity and environmental protection using innovative management technologies. This shift in focus is critical to achieve food and environmental security.

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