Production of Methane Emissions from Ruminant Husbandry: A Review

Brouček, J.

doi:10.4236/jep.2014.515141

Cited by 111 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…Although its average atmospheric concentration is only a small fraction of that of carbon dioxide (1800 ppb compared to 390 ppm), methane is initially far more harmful (Pachauri et al, 2014). Methane production by ruminants is associated with microbial fermentation of hydrolyzed carbohydrates and influenced by many factors including the ambient temperature (Broucek, 2014). An optimal ambient temperature (i.e., no climatic stress) corresponds to minimal methane emissions from dairy cattle, while each heat stress event is expected to lead to a few grams per livestock unit and per hour higher methane emissions (Hempel et al, 2016b).…”

Section: Environmental Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The topic of direct climate change impacts on livestock production is becoming more and more important due to the potential consequences of climatic stress (Vitt et al, 2017). Uncomfortable climatic conditions for farm animals impair animal growth; meat and milk yields and quality; egg yield, weight, and quality; reproductive performance; metabolic and health status; and immune response (Nardone et al, 2010;Brouček et al, 1991;Angrecka and Herbut, 2015). The term climatic stress (i.e., heat stress and cold stress) refers to any change to the bodies of farm animals when trying to adapt to changing meteorological conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heat stress risk in European dairy cattle husbandry under different climate change scenarios – uncertainties and potential impacts

et al. 2019

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Abstract. In the last decades, a global warming trend was observed. Along with the temperature increase, modifications in the humidity and wind regime amplify the regional and local impacts on livestock husbandry. Direct impacts include the occurrence of climatic stress conditions. In Europe, cows are economically highly relevant and are mainly kept in naturally ventilated buildings that are most susceptible to climate change. The high-yielding cows are particularly vulnerable to heat stress. Modifications in housing management are the main measures taken to improve the ability of livestock to cope with these conditions. Measures are typically taken in direct reaction to uncomfortable conditions instead of in anticipation of a long-term risk for climatic stress. Measures that balance welfare, environmental and economic issues are barely investigated in the context of climate change and are thus almost not available for commercial farms. Quantitative analysis of the climate change impacts on animal welfare and linked economic and environmental factors is rare. Therefore, we used a numerical modeling approach to estimate the future heat stress risk in such dairy cattle husbandry systems. The indoor climate was monitored inside three reference barns in central Europe and the Mediterranean regions. An artificial neuronal network (ANN) was trained to relate the outdoor weather conditions provided by official meteorological weather stations to the measured indoor microclimate. Subsequently, this ANN model was driven by an ensemble of regional climate model projections with three different greenhouse gas concentration scenarios. For the evaluation of the heat stress risk, we considered the number and duration of heat stress events. Based on the changes in the heat stress events, various economic and environmental impacts were estimated. The impacts of the projected increase in heat stress risk varied among the barns due to different locations and designs as well as the anticipated climate change (considering different climate models and future greenhouse gas concentrations). There was an overall increasing trend in number and duration of heat stress events. At the end of the century, the number of annual stress events can be expected to increase by up to 2000, while the average duration of the events increases by up to 22 h compared to the end of the last century. This implies strong impacts on economics, environment and animal welfare and an urgent need for mid-term adaptation strategies. We anticipated that up to one-tenth of all hours of a year, correspondingly one-third of all days, will be classified as critical heat stress conditions. Due to heat stress, milk yield may decrease by about 2.8 % relative to the present European milk yield, and farmers may expect financial losses in the summer season of about 5.4 % of their monthly income. In addition, an increasing demand for emission reduction measures must be expected, as an emission increase of about 16 Gg of ammonia and 0.1 Gg of methane per year can be expected under the anticipated heat stress conditions. The cattle respiration rate increases by up to 60 %, and the standing time may be prolonged by 1 h. This causes health issues and increases the probability of medical treatments. The various impacts imply feedback loops in the climate system which are presently underexplored. Hence, future in-depth studies on the different impacts and adaptation options at different stress levels are highly recommended.

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Section: Environmental Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat stress risk in European dairy cattle husbandry under different climate change scenarios – uncertainties and potential impacts

et al. 2019

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“…diversifolia as a potential methane reducer is in the fact that agricultural methane emissions are responsible for approximately 10–12% of global anthropogenic emissions [8,9]. Methane has 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and its production by ruminants is estimated to represent an energy loss between 2–12% of total energy intake [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tithonia diversifolia as a Supplementary Feed for Dairy Cows

et al. 2016

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The objective of this study was to examine the effects of Tithonia diversifolia as a supplementary forage on dairy cow performance and methane production. Nine lactating Holstein × Zebu dairy cows (519 ± 53.3 kg of body weight and 66 ± 13.3 d in milk) were paired by milk yield (21.3 ± 2.34 kg/d) and body weight and randomly assigned to three dietary treatments in a Latin square design with 21-d experimental periods (14 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for measurements and sample collection). The dietary treatments included the control diet consisting of fresh sugar cane plus concentrate (44:56, % of diet DM), and two treatment diets containing different levels of fresh T. diversifolia (6.5 and 15.4%, DM basis) which partially replaced both sugarcane and concentrates. Methane production was measured using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) technique from d 16 to d 21 of each experimental period. Analysis of the gas samples was performed by gas chromatography. The inclusion of T. diversifolia at 15.4% DM had no effects on DM intake, milk production, nitrogen balance or methane production. There was no effect on the concentrations of total saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in milk fat (P ≥ 0.28), though individual milk fatty acids were affected. Serum concentrations of glucose, urea nitrogen (BUN), triglycerides, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and cholesterol were unaffected by the dietary treatments (P ≥ 0.13). There was a time (2 and 6 h post-feeding) and dietary treatment effect (P < 0.01) on the acetate to propionate ratio in the rumen. A denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the archaeal community showed distinct clustering of the archaea populations for control and treatment diets. Taken together, our results indicate the potential of T. diversifolia as a supplementary forage for dairy cattle in the tropics.

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“…In agriculture, it is generated mainly by enteric fermentation, manure management and rice cultivation. By nature ruminants produce enteric CH4 (Broucek 2014) and research is underway to determine how this might be modified. Options are either to increase the amount of meat or milk produced per unit of CH4 emitted or to decrease the amount of CH4 emitted per unit of feed intake through: (1) providing high quality forage, mainly in terms of CP concentration and digestibility; and (2) improving livestock breeds that are able to respond to improved forage quality with increased productivity (Gerber et al 2013).…”

Section: Methane (Ch4)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropical forage legumes for environmental benefits: An overview

Schultze-Kraft

Rao

Peters

et al. 2018

Trop. grassl.-Forrajes trop.

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Ruminant livestock production in the tropics, particularly when based on pastures, is frequently blamed for being detrimental to the environment, allegedly contributing to: (1) degradation and destruction of ecosystems, including degradation and loss of soil, water and biodiversity; and (2) climate change (global warming). In this paper we argue that, rather than being detrimental, tropical forage legumes can have a positive impact on the environment, mainly due to key attributes that characterize the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family: (1) symbiotic nitrogen fixation; (2) high nutritive value; (3) deep-reaching tap-root system; (4) wide taxonomic and genetic diversity; and (5) presence of particular secondary metabolites. Although there are also potential negative aspects, such as soil acidification and the risks of introduced legumes becoming invasive weeds, we submit that legumes have potential to contribute significantly to sustainable intensification of livestock production in the tropics, along with the provision of ecosystem services. To further assess, document and realize this potential, research for development needs in a range of areas are indicated.Keywords: Biodiversity, ecosystem services, GHG emissions, land rehabilitation, soil enhancement, symbiotic nitrogen fixation. ResumenLa producción ganadera de rumiantes en el trópico, especialmente cuando es basada en pasturas, frecuentemente es considerada como perjudicial para el medio ambiente, ya que supuestamente contribuye con: (1) la degradación y destrucción de ecosistemas, incluyendo la pérdida de suelo, agua y biodiversidad; y (2) el cambio climático (calentamiento global). En el artículo se exponen argumentos para mostrar que, en lugar de ser perjudiciales, las leguminosas forrajeras tropicales pueden impactar positivamente en el medio ambiente, principalmente debido a sus atributos clave que son característicos de la familia de las Leguminosae (Fabaceae): (1) fijación simbiótica de nitrógeno; (2) alto valor nutritivo; (3) sistema de raíz pivotante profundo; (4) amplia diversidad taxonómica y genética; y (5) presencia de metabolitos secundarios particulares. Aunque se deben reconocer aspectos negativos como la contribución potencial a la acidificación del suelo y el riesgo de convertirse en malezas invasoras, concluimos que las leguminosas forrajeras tienen un potencial significativo para contribuir a la intensificación sostenible de la producción ganadera en el trópico, junto con la prestación de servicios ecosistémicos. Sugerimos una serie de áreas donde se requiere de investigación para evaluar más a fondo, documentar y realizar este potencial.Palabras clave: Biodiversidad, emisiones de GEI, fijación simbiótica de nitrógeno, mejoramiento del suelo, rehabilitación de tierras, servicios ecosistémicos.

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Production of Methane Emissions from Ruminant Husbandry: A Review

Cited by 111 publications

References 87 publications

Heat stress risk in European dairy cattle husbandry under different climate change scenarios – uncertainties and potential impacts

Heat stress risk in European dairy cattle husbandry under different climate change scenarios – uncertainties and potential impacts

Tithonia diversifolia as a Supplementary Feed for Dairy Cows

Tropical forage legumes for environmental benefits: An overview

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