Prediction of methane emissions from beef cattle in tropical production systems

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 1335 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. McCrabb ◽  
R. A. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Inventory ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Respiration Chamber ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Tropical Forage

The northern beef cattle herd accounts for more than half of Australia’s beef cattle population, and is a major source of anthropogenic methane emissions for Australia. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory predictions of methane output from Australian beef cattle are based on a predictive equation developed for British breeds of sheep and cattle offered temperate forage-based diets. However, tropical forage diets offered to cattle in northern Australia differ markedly from temperate forage-based diets used in the United Kingdom to develop the predictive equations. In this paper we review recent respiration chamber measurements of daily methane production for Brahman cattle offered a tropical forage or high grain diet, and compare them with values predicted using methodologies of the Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Committee and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We conclude that a reliable inventory of methane emissions for cattle in northern Australia can only be achieved after a wider range of tropical forage species has been investigated. Some opportunities for reducing methane emissions of beef cattle by dietary manipulation are discussed.

Influence of climate variability and stocking strategies on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), production and profit of a northern Queensland beef cattle herd

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan R. Cullen ◽  
Neil D. MacLeod ◽  
Joe C. Scanlan ◽  
Natalie Doran-Browne
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
River Region

Previous studies of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) from beef production systems in northern Australia have been based on models of ‘steady-state’ herd structures that do not take into account the considerable inter-annual variation in liveweight gain, reproduction and mortality rates that occurs due to seasonal conditions. Nor do they consider the implications of flexible stocking strategies designed to adapt these production systems to the highly variable climate. The aim of the present study was to quantify the variation in total GHGE (t CO2e) and GHGE intensity (t CO2e/t liveweight sold) for the beef industry in northern Australia when variability in these factors was considered. A combined GRASP–Enterprise modelling platform was used to simulate a breeding–finishing beef cattle property in the Burdekin River region of northern Queensland, using historical climate data from 1982–2011. GHGE was calculated using the method of Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Five different stocking-rate strategies were simulated with fixed stocking strategies at moderate and high rates, and three flexible stocking strategies where the stocking rate was adjusted annually by up to 5%, 10% or 20%, according to pasture available at the end of the growing season. Variation in total annual GHGE was lowest in the ‘fixed moderate’ (~9.5 ha/adult equivalent (AE)) stocking strategy, ranging from 3799 to 4471 t CO2e, and highest in the ‘fixed high’ strategy (~5.9 ha/AE), which ranged from 3771 to 7636 t CO2e. The ‘fixed moderate’ strategy had the least variation in GHGE intensity (15.7–19.4 t CO2e/t liveweight sold), while the ‘flexible 20’ strategy (up to 20% annual change in AE) had the largest range (10.5–40.8 t CO2e/t liveweight sold). Across the five stocking strategies, the ‘fixed moderate’ stocking-rate strategy had the highest simulated perennial grass percentage and pasture growth, highest average rate of liveweight gain (121 kg/steer), highest average branding percentage (74%) and lowest average breeding-cow mortality rate (3.9%), resulting in the lowest average GHGE intensity (16.9 t CO2e/t liveweight sold). The ‘fixed high’ stocking rate strategy (~5.9 ha/AE) performed the poorest in each of these measures, while the three flexible stocking strategies were intermediate. The ‘fixed moderate’ stocking strategy also yielded the highest average gross margin per AE carried and per hectare. These results highlight the importance of considering the influence of climate variability on stocking-rate management strategies and herd performance when estimating GHGE. The results also support a body of previous work that has recommended the adoption of moderate stocking strategies to enhance the profitability and ecological stability of beef production systems in northern Australia.

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 Methane Emissions and the Use of Desmanthus in Beef Cattle Production in Northern Australia

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bénédicte Suybeng ◽  
Edward Charmley ◽  
Christopher P. Gardiner ◽  
Bunmi S. Malau-Aduli ◽  
Aduli E. O. Malau-Aduli
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Beef Cattle Production ◽  
The Impact

The Australian beef industry is a major contributor to the economy with an estimated annual revenue generation of over seven billion dollars. The tropical state of Queensland accounted for 48% of Australian beef and veal production in 2018. As the third biggest beef exporter in the world, Australia supplies 3% of the world’s beef exports and its agricultural sector accounts for an estimated 13.2% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. About 71% of total agricultural emissions are in the form of methane and nitrous oxide. In this review, an overview of the carbon footprint of the beef cattle production system in northern Australia is presented, with emphasis on the mitigation of greenhouse gases. The review also focuses on the tropical legume, Desmanthus, one of the more promising nutritional supplements for methane abatement and improvement of animal growth performance. Among the review’s findings is the need to select environmentally well-adapted and vigorous tropical legumes containing tannins that can persistently survive under the harsh northern Australian conditions for driving animal performance, improving meat quality and reducing methane emissions. The paper argues that the use of appropriate legumes such as Desmanthus, is a natural and preferred alternative to the use of chemicals for the abatement of methane emanating from tropical beef cattle production systems. It also highlights current gaps in knowledge and new research opportunities for in vivo studies on the impact of Desmanthus on methane emissions of supplemented tropical beef cattle.

Is there a relationship between the behaviour of beef cattle and emissions of methane and ammonia from feedlot systems?

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 101-101
Author(s):  
S Muir ◽  
M Bai ◽  
Z Loh ◽  
J Hill ◽  
D Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Behaviour ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Animal Production Systems

Associations between animal behaviour and emissions of methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3) have been noted in studies of grazing cattle (Lockyer, 1997) and feedlot confined cattle (Harper et al., 1999, Flesch et al., 2007). Methane emissions have been predicted as being greatest during bouts of rumination (Harper et al., 1999) whereas the emissions of the indirect greenhouse gas ammonia tends to be low early in the morning but increasing rapidly in the early afternoon after which a rapid decline until sunset (Flesch et al., 2007). With the exception of Harper et al., (1999) there are few complete data sets that examine the interaction between animal behaviour and greenhouse gas emissions from intensive animal production systems. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between animal behaviour and emissions of CH4 and NH3 in a beef feedlot system in northern Australia.

scholarly journals Farm-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ Decision Support Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Evangelos Alexandropoulos ◽  
Vasileios Anestis ◽  
Thomas Bartzanas
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Decision Support Systems ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Estimation Procedure ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Green House Gas ◽  
Farm Scale ◽  
Beef Cattle Production

In this paper, 15 farm-scale Green House Gas-based (GHG-based) decision support (DS) tools were evaluated based on a number of criteria (descriptive evaluation), as well as the parameters requested as inputs and the outputs, all of which are considered important for the estimation procedure and the decision support approach. The tools were grouped as emission calculators and tools providing indicators in terms of more than one pillar of sustainability. The results suggest an absence of automatic consultation in decision support in most of the tools. Furthermore, dairy and beef cattle production systems are the most represented in the tools examined. This research confirms a number of important functionalities of modern GHG-based DS tools.

Methane output from beef cattle fed different high-concentrate diets

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 46-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Martin ◽  
H. Dubbroeucq ◽  
D. Micol ◽  
J. Agabriel ◽  
M. Doreau
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Animal Development ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Animal Product ◽  
Nutritional Benefits

Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas of which the release into the atmosphere is directly linked with animal agriculture, particularly ruminant production. CH4 emissions from ruminant also represent a loss in productive energy for the animal. Development of effective strategies to mitigate these methane emissions will have not only environmental benefits for the planet but also nutritional benefits for the animal. It has been shown that concentrate-rich diets result in a decrease in methanogenesis per unit of animal product (milk, meat). However, some of these diets may have adverse effects on the efficiency of production, e.g. due to risk of acidosis. Our study focused on measuring methane emissions on young bulls fed three contrasting finishing diets characteristics of three intensive levels of production in France.

Temporal and Spatial Variability of Methane Emissions from Texas Open-Lot Beef Cattle Feedyard Pens

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 1781-1794
Author(s):  
David B. Parker ◽  
Kenneth D. Casey ◽  
Heidi Maria Waldrip ◽  
Byeng Min ◽  
Bryan L. Woodbury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Ch4 Flux ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

HighlightsOpen-lot beef cattle feedyards are a source of greenhouse gas emissions.Pen surface methane emissions were quantified during the cool and warm seasons.Methane was generated in the lower anaerobic layers of the manure pack.Methane emissions decreased after rainfall due to methane oxidation or blocking of pore space.Pen surface methane emissions accounted for <1% of overall feedyard GHG as CO2eq.Abstract. Texas is one of the top beef-producing states, where annually more than five million beef cattle are finished in large feedyards on earthen-surfaced pens. Manure deposited on open-lot pen surfaces can contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as methane (CH4). Two week-long sampling campaigns were conducted in April (cool season) and August (warm season) to quantify CH4 emissions from the feedyard pen surface. Emissions were monitored before and after 12.7 mm simulated rainfall events. Temporal and spatial variabilities in emissions were quantified using automated recirculating flux chambers, a multiplexer system, and a real-time CH4 analyzer. During the cool season, mean CH4 flux was 1.09 (SD ±2.39) and 0.12 (±0.25) g animal-1 d-1 before and after rainfall, respectively. During the warm season, mean CH4 flux was 0.65 (±1.01) and 0.26 (±0.44) g animal-1 d-1 before and after rainfall, respectively. This suggested that CH4 was produced in the lower, anaerobic layer of the manure pack and CH4 emissions were inhibited following rainfall, most likely due to microbial oxidation of CH4 in the upper layers through methanotrophy or from slowing of diffusion by blocking the manure pore space. The overall mean pen surface CH4 flux was 0.53 g animal-1 d-1. This flux accounted for a small percentage (<1%) of the overall estimated feedyard GHG emissions expressed as CO2eq. Thus, efforts to mitigate GHG from open-lot beef cattle feedyards in the Texas Panhandle should focus on sources with higher percentages of overall GHG, such as enteric methane, pen surface nitrous oxide, and nitrous oxide from fertilized cropland. Keywords: Beef cattle, Flux chamber, Greenhouse gas, Manure, Methane, Rainfall.

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