Farm-level emission intensities of smallholder cattle (Bos indicus; B. indicus–B. taurus crosses) production systems in highlands and semi-arid regions

Ndung’u, Phyllis; Takahashi, Taro; Toit, C.J.L. du; Robertson-Dean, M.; Butterbach‐Bahl, Klaus; McAuliffe, Graham A.; Merbold, Lutz; Goopy, John P.

doi:10.1016/j.animal.2021.100445

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Indirect methods enable estimates outside of laboratory in "real-world" conditions, and they have proven effective for estimating Tier 2 EFs for livestock systems in SSA (20,21). Indirect estimations based on household surveys can highlight heterogeneity in enteric CH 4 emissions and productivity between farms and may be useful in identifying drivers and developing mitigation strategies for enteric emissions (71,72).…”

Section: Discussion and Future Directions Enteric Ch 4 Emissions-pros...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Activity data collection in the field is costly and labor intensive, and in many instances literature values are used in lieu of field measurements to reduce the costs of Tier 2 EF estimates (83)(84)(85). Future research is needed to assess the sensitivity of enteric CH 4 emissions estimates to different methods and sources of activity data, and to reduce costs of activity data collection more generally (71). The scientific research community can contribute to government-led efforts by providing decision support and developing low-cost tools for data collection.…”

Section: Discussion and Future Directions Enteric Ch 4 Emissions-pros...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Research Progress on Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa Falls Short of National Inventory Ambitions

et al. 2022

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Livestock are an important source of livelihoods in agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), while also being the largest source of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in most African countries. As a consequence, there is a critical need for data on livestock GHG sources and sinks to develop national inventories, as well as conduct baseline measurements and intervention testing to mitigate GHG emissions and meet ambitious national climate goals. Our objective was to review studies on GHG emissions from livestock systems in SSA, as well as soil carbon storage in livestock-dominated systems (i.e., grasslands and rangelands), to evaluate best current data and suggest future research priorities. To this end, we compiled studies from SSA that determined emission factors (EFs) for enteric methane and manure emissions, along with studies on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in SSA. We found that there has been limited research on livestock GHG emissions and SOC relative to national ambitions for climate change mitigation in SSA. Enteric methane emission factors (EFs) in low productivity cattle systems may be lower than IPCC Tier 1 default EFs, whereas small ruminants (i.e. sheep and goats) had higher EFs compared to IPCC Tier 1 EFs. Manure EFs were equal to or lower than IPCC Tier 1 EFs for deposited manure (while grazing), manure applied as fertilizer, and manure management. SOC stocks for grasslands and rangelands in SSA show broad agreement with IPCC estimates, but there was a strong geographic bias and many studies did not report soil type, bulk density, or SOC stocks at >30 cm depth. In general, the largest data gaps included information for manure (quantity, quality, management), small ruminants, agropastoral/pastoralist systems, and in general from West Africa. Future research should focus on filling major data gaps on locally appropriate mitigation interventions and improving livestock activity data for developing Tier 2 GHG inventories in SSA. At the science-policy interface, all parties would benefit from enhanced coordination within the research community and between researchers and African governments to improve Tier 2 inventories and harmonize measurement for mitigation in livestock systems in SSA.

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Section: Discussion and Future Directions Enteric Ch 4 Emissions-pros...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussion and Future Directions Enteric Ch 4 Emissions-pros...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Research Progress on Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa Falls Short of National Inventory Ambitions

et al. 2022

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“…Herbivore CH 4 emissions represent a small but increasing component of the African methane cycle, which is highly uncertain (Valentini et al., 2014). African livestock production systems differ from global averages in terms of diet, average body weights, herd structure, and body condition (Goopy et al., 2021; Ndung'u et al., 2022). The IPCC 2019 methodology estimates emission factors for free‐ranging cattle in low productivity systems of Africa to be 48 kgCH 4 /head yr −1 (Table 10.11 in IPCC, 2019), but recent empirical papers from Africa report emissions factors closer to the IPCC 2006 estimate of 31 kgCH 4 /head yr −1 (Table S9 in Supporting Information S1).…”

Section: African Ghg Component Estimatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The African Regional Greenhouse Gases Budget (2010–2019)

Ernst,

Archibald,

Balzter

et al. 2024

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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As part of the REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes Phase 2 (RECCAP2) project, we developed a comprehensive African Greenhouse gases (GHG) budget covering 2000 to 2019 (RECCAP1 and RECCAP2 time periods), and assessed uncertainties and trends over time. We compared bottom‐up process‐based models, data‐driven remotely sensed products, and national GHG inventories with top‐down atmospheric inversions, accounting also for lateral fluxes. We incorporated emission estimates derived from novel methodologies for termites, herbivores, and fire, which are particularly important in Africa. We further constrained global woody biomass change products with high‐quality regional observations. During the RECCAP2 period, Africa's carbon sink capacity is decreasing, with net ecosystem exchange switching from a small sink of −0.61 ± 0.58 PgC yr−1 in RECCAP1 to a small source in RECCAP2 at 0.16 (−0.52/1.36) PgC yr−1. Net CO2 emissions estimated from bottom‐up approaches were 1.6 (−0.9/5.8) PgCO2 yr−1, net CH4 were 77 (56.4/93.9) TgCH4 yr−1 and net N2O were 2.9 (1.4/4.9) TgN2O yr−1. Top‐down atmospheric inversions showed similar trends. Land Use Change emissions increased, representing one of the largest contributions at 1.7 (0.8/2.7) PgCO2eq yr−1 to the African GHG budget and almost similar to emissions from fossil fuels at 1.74 (1.53/1.96) PgCO2eq yr−1, which also increased from RECCAP1. Additionally, wildfire emissions decreased, while fuelwood burning increased. For most component fluxes, uncertainty is large, highlighting the need for increased efforts to address Africa‐specific data gaps. However, for RECCAP2, we improved our overall understanding of many of the important components of the African GHG budget that will assist to inform climate policy and action.

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“…Herbivore CH 4 emissions represent a small but increasing component of the African methane cycle, which is highly uncertain (Valentini et al, 2014). African livestock production systems differ from global averages in Global Biogeochemical Cycles 10.1029/2023GB008016 terms of diet, average body weights, herd structure, and body condition (Goopy et al, 2021;Ndung'u et al, 2022).…”

Section: Large Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The African Regional Greenhouse Gases Budget (2010-2019)

Ernst,

Archibald,

Chevallier

et al. 2023

Preprint

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As part of the REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes Phase 2 (RECCAP2) project, we developed a comprehensive African Greenhouse gases (GHG) budget for the period 2010-2019 and compared it to the budget over the 1985-2009 (RECCAP1) period. We considered bottom-up process-based models, data-driven remotely sensed products, and national GHG inventories in comparison with top-down atmospheric inversions, accounting also for lateral fluxes. We incorporated emission estimates derived from novel methodologies for termites, herbivores, and fire, which are particularly important in Africa. We further constrained global woody biomass change products with high-quality regional observations. During the RECCAP2 period, Africa’s carbon sink capacity is decreasing, with net ecosystem exchange switching from a small sink of −0.61 ± 0.58 PgCyr−1 in RECCAP1 to a small source in RECCAP2 at 0.162 (-1.793/2.633) PgCyr-1. Net CO2 emissions estimated from bottom-up approaches were 1.588 (-6.461/11.439) PgCO2yr-1, net CH4 were 78.453 (36.665/59.677) TgCH4yr-1) and net N2O were 1.81 (1.716/2.239) TgN2Oyr-1. Top-down atmospheric inversions showed similar trends. LUC emissions increased, representing one of the largest contributions at 1.746 (0.841/2.651) PgCO2eq yr-1 to the African GHG budget and almost similar to emissions from fossil fuels at 1.743 (1.531/1.956) PgCO2eq yr-1, which also increased from RECCAP1. Additionally, wildfire emissions decreased, while fuelwood burning increased. For most component fluxes, uncertainty is large, highlighting the need for increased efforts to address Africa-specific data gaps. However, for RECCAP2, we improved our overall understanding of many of the important components of the African GHG budget that will assist to inform climate policy and action.

show abstract

Farm-level emission intensities of smallholder cattle (Bos indicus; B. indicus–B. taurus crosses) production systems in highlands and semi-arid regions

Cited by 11 publications

References 56 publications

Research Progress on Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa Falls Short of National Inventory Ambitions

Research Progress on Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa Falls Short of National Inventory Ambitions

The African Regional Greenhouse Gases Budget (2010–2019)

The African Regional Greenhouse Gases Budget (2010-2019)

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