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

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
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.

Climate Clever Beef: options to improve business performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in northern Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Bray ◽  
Dionne Walsh ◽  
David Phelps ◽  
Joe Rolfe ◽  
Kiri Broad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Beef Industry ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Emissions Intensity ◽  
Carbon Economy

The Rangeland Journal – Climate Clever Beef special issue examines options for the beef industry in northern Australia to contribute to the reduction in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to engage in the carbon economy. Relative to its gross value (A$5 billion), the northern beef industry is responsible for a sizable proportion of national reportable GHG emissions (8–10%) through enteric methane, savanna burning, vegetation clearing and land degradation. The industry occupies large areas of land and has the potential to impact the carbon cycle by sequestering carbon or reducing carbon loss. Furthermore, much of the industry is currently not achieving its productivity potential, which suggests that there are opportunities to improve the emissions intensity of beef production. Improving the industry’s GHG emissions performance is important for its environmental reputation and may benefit individual businesses through improved production efficiency and revenue from the carbon economy. The Climate Clever Beef initiative collaborated with beef businesses in six regions across northern Australia to better understand the links between GHG emissions and carbon stocks, land condition, herd productivity and profitability. The current performance of businesses was measured and alternate management options were identified and evaluated. Opportunities to participate in the carbon economy through the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) were also assessed. The initiative achieved significant producer engagement and collaboration resulting in practice change by 78 people from 35 businesses, managing more than 1 272 000 ha and 132 000 cattle. Carbon farming opportunities were identified that could improve both business performance and emissions intensity. However, these opportunities were not without significant risks, trade-offs and limitations particularly in relation to business scale, and uncertainty in carbon price and the response of soil and vegetation carbon sequestration to management. This paper discusses opportunities for reducing emissions, improving emission intensity and carbon sequestration, and outlines the approach taken to achieve beef business engagement and practice change. The paper concludes with some considerations for policy makers.

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

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 667 ◽  
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.

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

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 16879-16902 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Craft Beer Industry: an Assessment of Challenges and Benefits of Greenhouse Gas Accounting

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Shin ◽  
Cory Searcy
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Carbon Regulation ◽  
Craft Beer ◽  
Beer Industry ◽  
Bottle Production

A growing number of companies in the brewery industry have made commitments to measure and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, many brewers, particularly craft brewers with relatively low rates of production, have struggled to meet these commitments. The purpose of this research was to investigate the challenges and benefits of measuring and reducing GHG emissions in the craft brewery industry. The research was conducted in Ontario, Canada, which has seen strong recent growth in the craft brewery industry. A case study and semi-structured interviews among Ontario Craft Brewers were conducted. The case study found that indirect (scope 3 emissions under the WBCSD & WRI GHG Protocol) GHG sources accounted for 46.4% of total GHGs, with major sources from barley agriculture, malted barley transportation, and bottle production. Direct emissions (scope 1) accounted for only 14.9% of GHGs, while scope 2 emissions, comprised mainly of energy consumption, accounted for 38.7% of GHGs. The case study and interviews found that the main challenges in calculating brewery GHGs are secondary data availability, technical knowledge, and finances. The study also found that the main benefits for Ontario breweries to measure their GHGs include sustainability marketing and preserving the environment. The interviews also found a poor understanding of carbon regulation among Ontario Craft Brewers, which is interesting considering that Ontario implemented a provincial cap and trade program in 2017.

Down scaling to regional assessment of greenhouse gas emissions to enable consistency in accounting for emissions reduction projects and national inventory accounts for northern beef production in Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra J. Eady ◽  
Guillaume Havard ◽  
Steven G. Bray ◽  
William Holmes ◽  
Javi Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
National Accounts ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
National Inventory ◽  
State Territory

This paper explores the effect of using regional data for livestock attributes on estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the northern beef industry in Australia, compared with using state/territory-wide values, as currently used in Australia’s national GHG inventory report. Regional GHG emissions associated with beef production are reported for 21 defined agricultural statistical regions within state/territory jurisdictions. A management scenario for reduced emissions that could qualify as an Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) project was used to illustrate the effect of regional level model parameters on estimated abatement levels. Using regional parameters, instead of state level parameters, for liveweight (LW), LW gain and proportion of cows lactating and an expanded number of livestock classes, gives a 5.2% reduction in estimated emissions (range +12% to –34% across regions). Estimated GHG emissions intensity (emissions per kilogram of LW sold) varied across the regions by up to 2.5-fold, ranging from 10.5 kg CO2-e kg–1 LW sold for Darling Downs, Queensland, through to 25.8 kg CO2-e kg–1 LW sold for the Pindan and North Kimberley, Western Australia. This range was driven by differences in production efficiency, reproduction rate, growth rate and survival. This suggests that some regions in northern Australia are likely to have substantial opportunities for GHG abatement and higher livestock income. However, this must be coupled with the availability of management activities that can be implemented to improve production efficiency; wet season phosphorus (P) supplementation being one such practice. An ERF case study comparison showed that P supplementation of a typical-sized herd produced an estimated reduction of 622 t CO2-e year–1, or 7%, compared with a non-P supplemented herd. However, the different model parameters used by the National Inventory Report and ERF project means that there was an anomaly between the herd emissions for project cattle excised from the national accounts (13 479 t CO2-e year–1) and the baseline herd emissions estimated for the ERF project (8 896 t CO2-e year–1) before P supplementation was implemented. Regionalising livestock model parameters in both ERF projects and the national accounts offers the attraction of being able to more easily and accurately reflect emissions savings from this type of emissions reduction project in Australia’s national GHG accounts.

The Drivers of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity Improvements in Major Economies: Analysis of Trends 1995–2009

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-297
Author(s):  
Madanmohan Ghosh ◽  
Deming Luo ◽  
Muhammad Shahid Siddiqui ◽  
Thomas Rutherford ◽  
Yunfa Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Aggregate Production ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Emissions Intensity ◽  
Global Emissions ◽  
Structural Shifts

This article analyses the trends in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity over the period 1995–2009 in a mix of developing and developed economies that account for almost two-thirds of global emissions. From the accounting point of view, it distinguishes between the production-based emissions (PBEs) and consumption or demand-based emissions (DBEs). Several studies find that while PBEs in many developed economies during the last decades have stabilised, the DBEs are on the rise. Understanding the relative influence of various factors that have shaped the different patterns of emissions growth can provide us with important policy insights for controlling GHG emissions. The article undertakes a decomposition exercise to understand the variations/fluctuations in both PBEs and DBEs intensities due to changes in technology and changes in economic structure (i.e., composition of aggregate production and final consumption). The main findings of this article are that, over the period 1995–2009, technological change has been the key driver of emissions intensity improvements in both PBEs and DBEs. Emissions intensity improvements in consumption activities have been slower than production, particularly in EU 27. Structural changes or changes in the composition of aggregate production and demand have relatively smaller contribution in overall intensity improvement. Structural shifts in the economy have somewhat negatively contributed to emissions intensity improvements in Canada and China. In India, structural shifts in both production and consumption activities have contributed significantly to emissions intensity improvements. When taking account of trade, changes in the sources of imports have worked against overall emissions intensity improvements, particularly in the developed economies of Canada, European Union (EU 27) and USA, where imports from relatively emissions intensive sources have increased during the period. JEL: D58, Q56, O13

scholarly journals Effects of Local Biomass Availability and Road Network Properties on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Biomass Supply Chain

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jäppinen ◽  
O.-J. Korpinen ◽  
T. Ranta
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Biomass Supply ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
Gis Methods ◽  
Biomass Availability

This study presents two case studies of 100 GWh of forest biomass supply: Rovaniemi in northern Finland and Mikkeli in south-eastern Finland. The study evaluates the effects of local biomass availability and road network properties on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of these two supply chains. The local forest biomass availability around the case study locations, truck transportation distances, and road network properties were analyzed by GIS methods to produce accurate and site-dependent data for the transportation emission calculations. The GHG emissions were then assessed by LCA methods. The total transportation distance to Rovaniemi was 22% larger than to Mikkeli, but the transportation derived GHG emissions were 31% larger. The results highlight the fact that local conditions should always be taken into account when assessing the sustainability of biomass-based energy production.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Craft Beer Industry: An Assessment of Challenges and Benefits of Greenhouse Gas Accounting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Shin ◽  
Cory Searcy
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Carbon Regulation ◽  
Craft Beer ◽  
External Sources

A growing number of companies in the brewery industry have made commitments to measure and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, many brewers, particularly craft brewers with relatively low rates of production, have not made such commitments. The purpose of this research was to investigate the challenges and benefits of measuring and reducing GHG emissions in the craft brewery industry. The research was conducted in Ontario, Canada, which has seen strong recent growth in the craft brewery industry. A case study and semi-structured interviews among Ontario Craft Brewers were conducted. The case study found that indirect (scope 3 GHGs under the WBCSD & WRI GHG Protocol) GHG sources accounted for 46.4% of total GHGs, with major sources from barley agriculture, malted barley transportation, and bottle production. Direct emissions (scope 1) accounted for only 14.9% of GHGs, while scope 2 emissions, comprised mainly of energy consumption, accounted for 38.7% of GHGs. The case study used case company primary data, and secondary data such as emission factors from external sources. The case study and interviews found that the main challenges in calculating brewery GHGs are secondary data availability, technical knowledge, and finances. The semi-structured interviews, which used prepared interview questions and probes to encourage follow-up answers, also found that the main benefits for Ontario breweries to measure their GHGs include sustainability marketing and preserving the environment. The interviews also found a poor understanding of carbon regulation among Ontario Craft Brewers, which is interesting considering that Ontario implemented a provincial cap and trade program in 2017.

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

Soil Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 724 ◽  
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.

Greenhouse gas emissions intensity of Ontario milk production in 2011 compared with 1991

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susantha Jayasundara ◽  
Claudia Wagner-Riddle
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Manure Management ◽  
Enteric Fermentation ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Emissions Intensity ◽  
Feed Crop

Jayasundara, S. and Wagner-Riddle, C. 2014. Greenhouse gas emissions intensity of Ontario milk production in 2011 compared with 1991. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 155–173. For identifying opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from milk production in Ontario, this study analyzed GHG intensity of milk [kg CO2 equivalents kg−1 fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM)] in 2011 compared with 1991 considering cow and crop productivity improvements and management changes over this period. It also assessed within-province variability in GHG intensity of milk in 2011 using county-level data related to milk production. After allocating whole-farm GHG emissions between milk and meat using an allocation factor calculated according to the International Dairy Federation equation, GHG intensity of Ontario milk was 1.03 kgCO2eq kg−1 FPCM in 2011, 22% lower than that in 1991 (1.32 kg CO2eq kg−1 FPCM). Greenhouse gas sources directly associated with dairy cattle decreased less (21 and 14% for enteric fermentation and manure management, respectively) than sources associated with feed crop production (30 to 34% for emissions related to N inputs and farm-field work). Proportions of GHG contributed from different life cycle activities did not change, with enteric fermentation contributing 46%, feed crop production 34%, manure management 18% and milking and related activities 2%. Within province, GHG intensity varied from 0.89 to 1.36 kg CO2eq kg−1 FPCM, a variation inversely correlated with milk productivity per cow (kg FPCM sold cow−1 year−1). The existence of a wide variation is strong indication for potential further reductions in GHG intensity of Ontario milk through the identification of practices associated with high efficiency.

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