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.

scholarly journals Greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from stored manure from beef cattle supplemented 3-nitrooxypropanol and monensin to reduce enteric methane emissions

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Owens ◽  
Ben W. Thomas ◽  
Jessica L. Stoeckli ◽  
Karen A. Beauchemin ◽  
Tim A. McAllister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Ammonia Emissions ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

Abstract The investigative material 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) can reduce enteric methane emissions from beef cattle. North American beef cattle are often supplemented the drug monensin to improve feed digestibility. Residual and confounding effects of these additives on manure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are unknown. This research tested whether manure carbon and nitrogen, and GHG and ammonia emissions, differed from cattle fed a typical finishing diet and 3-NOP [125–200 mg kg−1 dry matter (DM) feed], or both 3-NOP (125–200 mg kg−1 DM) and monensin (33 mg kg−1 DM) together, compared to a control (no supplements) when manure was stockpiled or composted for 202 days. Consistent with other studies, cumulative GHGs (except nitrous oxide) and ammonia emissions were higher from composted compared to stockpiled manure (all P < 0.01). Dry matter, total carbon and total nitrogen mass balance estimates, and cumulative GHG and ammonia emissions, from stored manure were not affected by 3-NOP or monensin. During the current experiment, supplementing beef cattle with 3-NOP did not significantly affect manure GHG or NH3 emissions during storage under the tested management conditions, suggesting supplementing cattle with 3-NOP does not have residual effects on manure decomposition as estimated using total carbon and nitrogen losses and GHG emissions.

scholarly journals Effects of dry or wet conditions during the preweaning phase on subsequent feedlot performance and carcass composition of beef cattle

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 247-255
Author(s):  
Garth A Gatson ◽  
Patrick J Gunn ◽  
W Darrell Busby ◽  
Bryon R Wiegand ◽  
Brian L Vander Ley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Drought Severity ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Feedlot Performance ◽  
Dry And Wet Conditions ◽  
Normal Class

Abstract Our objective was to determine the effects of dry and wet conditions during the preweaning on subsequent feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of beef cattle. Steers (n = 7,432) and heifers (n = 2,361) finished in 16 feedlots in southwestern Iowa through the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Cooperative were used for a retrospective analysis. Cattle originated in the Midwest (Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota) and were born in February, March, or April of 2002 through 2013. Feedlot performance and carcass composition data were obtained for each animal. Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) values were obtained for each animal’s preweaning environment on a monthly basis. Mean PDSI values were used to classify conditions as dry (≤−2.0), normal (&gt;−2.0 and &lt;2.0), or wet (≥2.0) for the cool (April and May), warm (June through August), and combined (April through August) forage growing seasons preweaning. Mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of PDSI class on subsequent performance. Calf sex, date of birth (as day of year), year, and feedlot were also included as fixed effects. When considering PDSI class during the cool season, cattle from normal and wet classes had a greater feedlot delivery BW (P &lt; 0.0001) than dry. Dry and normal classes had greater (P ≤ 0.02) delivery BW than wet during the warm and combined seasons, however. For the cool season, average daily gain was greater (P &lt; 0.0001) for the dry class than normal and wet. Cattle from the normal class for the cool season had greater (P = 0.001) final BW than wet, but the wet class had the greatest (P &lt; 0.04) and dry class had the lowest (P &lt; 0.01) final BW during the warm season. During the cool season, HCW was greater (P &lt; 0.007) for the normal than wet class, although HCW was greater (P ≤ 0.02) for wet compared with dry and normal during the warm season. Calculated yield grade was lower (P ≤ 0.006) for the normal class during the cool season compared with dry and wet. For both the warm and combined seasons, the dry class had lower (P ≤ 0.004) calculated yield grade compared with normal and wet. Carcasses from cattle that experienced normal or wet warm seasons had greater (P ≤ 0.0005) marbling scores than dry, and normal had greater (P = 0.0009) marbling score than dry for the combined seasons. In conclusion, these data indicate that both dry and wet conditions during the preweaning phase may impact ultimate feedlot performance and carcass composition.

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.

scholarly journals Environmental Changes Produced by Household Consumption

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5730
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Martínez ◽  
Ángeles Cámara
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Household Consumption ◽  
Retail Trade ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

This paper analyzes the impact of the fall in household consumption after an economic crisis in Spain on greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, household consumption is differentiated by the age of the main provider by using a conversion matrix that relates consumption groups to activity sectors. A multisectoral model was used to quantify and compare the environmental impact caused by the consumption of each age group, indicating that the older the age of the main household provider, the smaller the reduction in GHG emissions associated with their consumption. The results facilitate an analysis of how the greenhouse gas emissions of the different sectors of the Spanish economy, associated with the population under study, varied before and after the 2008 crisis, and confirm that the sectors with the greatest reduction in emissions were, in this order, extractive industries, construction, manufacturing industry, wholesale and retail trade and transport and storage. This is relevant for decision making in the field of environmental policies in crises, akin to the one the world is currently experiencing.

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.

scholarly journals Water level, vegetation composition, and plant productivity explain greenhouse gas fluxes in temperate cutover fens after inundation

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3945-3970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merten Minke ◽  
Jürgen Augustin ◽  
Andrei Burlo ◽  
Tatsiana Yarmashuk ◽  
Hanna Chuvashova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Phragmites Australis ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Typha Latifolia ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Co2 Uptake ◽  
Vegetation Composition ◽  
Flooded Areas

Abstract. Peat extraction leaves a land surface with a strong relief of deep cutover areas and higher ridges. Rewetting inundates the deep parts, while less deeply extracted zones remain at or above the water level. In temperate fens the flooded areas are colonized by helophytes such as Eriophorum angustifolium, Carex spp., Typha latifolia or Phragmites australis dependent on water depth. Reeds of Typha and Phragmites are reported as large sources of methane, but data on net CO2 uptake are contradictory for Typha and rare for Phragmites. Here, we analyze the effect of vegetation, water level and nutrient conditions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for representative vegetation types along water level gradients at two rewetted cutover fens (mesotrophic and eutrophic) in Belarus. Greenhouse gas emissions were measured campaign-wise with manual chambers every 2 to 4 weeks for 2 years and interpolated by modelling. All sites had negligible nitrous oxide exchange rates. Most sites were carbon sinks and small GHG sources. Methane emissions generally increased with net ecosystem CO2 uptake. Mesotrophic small sedge reeds with water table around the land surface were small GHG sources in the range of 2.3 to 4.2 t CO2 eq. ha−1 yr−1. Eutrophic tall sedge – Typha latifolia reeds on newly formed floating mats were substantial net GHG emitters in the range of 25.1 to 39.1 t CO2 eq. ha−1 yr. They represent transient vegetation stages. Phragmites reeds ranged between −1.7 to 4.2 t CO2 eq. ha−1 yr−1 with an overall mean GHG emission of 1.3 t CO2 eq. ha−1 yr−1. The annual CO2 balance was best explained by vegetation biomass, which includes the role of vegetation composition and species. Methane emissions were obviously driven by biological activity of vegetation and soil organisms. Shallow flooding of cutover temperate fens is a suitable measure to arrive at low GHG emissions. Phragmites australis establishment should be promoted in deeper flooded areas and will lead to moderate, but variable GHG emissions or even occasional sinks. The risk of large GHG emissions is higher for eutrophic than mesotrophic peatlands. Nevertheless, flooding of eutrophic temperate fens still represents a safe GHG mitigation option because even the hotspot of our study, the floating tall sedge – Typha latifolia reeds, did not exceed the typical range of GHG emissions from drained fen grasslands and the spatially dominant Phragmites australis reed emitted by far less GHG than drained fens.

Effects of organic soil amendments on soil greenhouse gas exchange under controlled soil moisture conditions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Peltokangas ◽  
Jussi Heinonsalo ◽  
Kristiina Karhu ◽  
Liisa Kulmala ◽  
Jari Liski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Organic Soil Amendments ◽  
Moisture Conditions

&lt;p&gt;Organic soil amendments are proposed to mitigate climate change and support soil fertility by introducing recalcitrant carbon into soil. However, the full impact of recycled biosolids on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics are still unknown. We conducted a laboratory incubation to assess the climatic effects of two biochars (willow and spruce) and two ligneous biosolids on GHG emissions in controlled moisture conditions. The soil used in the incubation was collected from a soil-amendment field experiment on a clay cropland in South-West of Finland. The soil was sieved, air-dried and then individual samples were adjusted to 25%, 50%, 80% and 120% of water filled pore space (WFPS) before being incubated for 32 days in laboratory conditions. Soil GHG fluxes were measured after 1, 5, 12, 20 and 33 days.&amp;#160;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The application of 20&amp;#8211;40 Mg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of ligneous amendments, two years prior to our experiment, had increased soil pH, soil organic carbon content and plant available water content. The carbon dioxide (CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) fluxes were unaffected by the amendment treatments and correlated mainly with soil moisture and microbial biomass. Nitrous oxide (N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O) emissions were reduced by all amendments compared to the un-amended control. Methane (CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;) exchange consisted mostly of slight uptake by the soil but played only a minor role in the total GHG budget overall.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The sum of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O and CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; emissions, calculated as&amp;#160;CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-equivalents,&amp;#160;exhibited a strong&amp;#160;linear relationship with soil moisture. Where the GHG budget was dominated by CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, it was accompanied by significant N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions at 120% WFPS. The results indicate that soil moisture critically affects the GHG emissions and that while organic soil amendments may have persisting effects on GHG exchange, they primarily occur in water-saturated conditions through N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O dynamics.&lt;/p&gt;

Modelled greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle grazing irrigated leucaena in northern Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris A. Taylor ◽  
Matthew T. Harrison ◽  
Marnie Telfer ◽  
Richard Eckard
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
Livestock Emissions

Agriculture produces an estimated 14.5% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gases, with livestock emissions being the largest source of enteric methane. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from production and processing of beef cattle will become increasingly important with time, particularly in line with global efforts to mitigate rising GHG emissions. The present study compared several GHG emission scenarios from beef cattle grazing on irrigated Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit cv. Cunningham (leucaena) in Queensland, Australia. Animals began grazing the leucaena paddocks when they were 16 months old and continued until ~240 days, before being sold to market. Three scenarios were modelled with cattle grazing leucaena and the resulting GHG emissions calculated, representing (1) the current leucaena paddock (current leucaena scenario), (2) clearing native vegetation and extending the leucaena paddock (extended leucaena scenario) and (3) extending the leucaena paddock onto previously cleared paddocks (alternative leucaena scenario). These were compared with a pre-scenario baseline, where the steers grazed on native vegetation until the time of sale. Herd GHG emission intensities (EI) were reduced in comparison with the baseline (EI of 8.4 tCO2-e/t liveweight sold) for all the leucaena scenarios, where reductions were modelled for the current, extended and alternative leucaena scenarios, which had an EI of 3.9, 3.7 and 3.6 tCO2-e/ t liveweight sold, respectively. Reductions were attributed to the higher growth rates of the steers on leucaena and the anti-methanogenic potential of leucaena. Where leucaena was planted on previously cleared paddocks, carbon stocks (t C/ha) nearly doubled a decade following planting, with most carbon sequestered in the soil. However, total carbon stocks on the property reduced over the modelled period (112 years), where native vegetation, e.g. eucalyptus woodland, was cleared for leucaena planting, but soil carbon yield increased. The combined sequestration of leucaena and the reduction of GHG emission intensities resulted in overall net reductions of GHG emissions for the three leucaena scenarios compared with the baseline. These results demonstrated that the use of leucaena for grazing can be an effective means for farmers to reduce the GHG emissions and increase productivity of their herds. The study also demonstrated that it would take 9 years of reduced emissions to compensate for the carbon lost as emissions from clearing the eucalyptus woodland, suggesting that farmers should use other methods of intensifying production from existing leucaena paddocks if their sole purpose is short-term emissions abatement.

scholarly journals Effects of Two Manure Additives on Methane Emissions from Dairy Manure

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 807
Author(s):  
Jessie Cluett ◽  
Andrew C. VanderZaag ◽  
Hambaliou Baldé ◽  
Sean McGinn ◽  
Earl Jenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Significant Source ◽  
Liquid Manure ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
Ch4 Production ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After

Liquid manure is a significant source of methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas. Many livestock farms use manure additives for practical and agronomic purposes, but the effect on CH4 emissions is unknown. To address this gap, two lab studies were conducted, evaluating the CH4 produced from liquid dairy manure with Penergetic-g® (12 mg/L, 42 mg/L, and 420 mg/L) or AgrimestMix® (30.3 mL/L). In the first study, cellulose produced 378 mL CH4/g volatile solids (VS) at 38 °C and there was no significant difference with Penergetic-g® at 12 mg/L or 42 mg/L. At the same temperature, dairy manure produced 254 mL CH4/g VS and was not significantly different from 42 mg/L Penergetic-g®. In the second lab study, the dairy manure control produced 187 mL CH4/g VS at 37 °C and 164 mL CH4/g VS at 20 °C, and there was no significant difference with AgrimestMix (30.3 mL/L) or Penergetic-g® (420 mg/L) at either temperature. Comparisons of manure composition before and after incubation indicated that the additives had no effect on pH or VS, and small and inconsistent effects on other constituents. Overall, neither additive affected CH4 production in the lab. The results suggest that farms using these additives are likely to have normal CH4 emissions from stored manure.

Comparative analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from three beef cattle herds in a corporate farming enterprise

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Taylor ◽  
Richard Eckard
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
Relative Time ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Herd Management ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
Alternative Scenarios

This study provided a gate-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment that modelled the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of three herds bred and grown by an integrated beef cattle enterprise across northern Australia. It involved modelling the GHG emissions of current herd management by the enterprise as a ‘baseline’ compared with ‘alternative scenarios’ of herd management. There were three herds (one herd of steers and two herds of heifers) each consisting of 5000 head of cattle. The baseline consisted of the steer herd grazing on growing then backgrounding properties and being finished at a feedlot. The two heifer herds grazed one respective backgrounding property each and were finished in a feedlot for their respective baselines. The alternative scenarios involved the steer herd bypassing the growing property and spending increased time at the backgrounding property. The heifer herds bypassed their respective backgrounding properties and they were grown and finished at a feedlot. The results show a 14% reduction of GHG emission intensities between the baseline and alternative scenario for steers and reductions of 29% and 4% between the baseline and alternative scenarios for the respective heifer herds. The variance in GHG emissions between the heifer herds can be explained by relative time spent grazing on the respective backgrounding properties and associated liveweight gain, versus time spent being grown and finished in the feedlot. In our modelling, herd GHG emission reductions occurred in the scenarios when time grazing on the growing or backgrounding properties (and associated liveweight gains) in the respective baselines exceeded 225–229 days for the heifer herds and between 206 days for the steers (depending on the relative liveweight gains on the properties). This means that if the cattle herds were to spend a longer time grazing on a property in their respective baselines than the number of days noted in our analysis, bypassing these properties would then result in net reductions in GHG emissions for the herds.

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