Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Worm Control in Lambs

Abstract

There are currently little or no data on the role of endemic disease control in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock. In the present study, we have used an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-compliant model to calculate GHG emissions from naturally grazing lambs under four different anthelmintic drug treatment regimes over a 5-year study period. Treatments were either "monthly" (NST), "strategic" (SPT), "targeted" (TST) or based on "clinical signs" (MT). Commercial sheep farming practices were simulated, with lambs reaching a pre-selected target market weight (38 kg) removed from the analysis as they would no longer contribute to the GHG budget of the flock. Results showed there was a significant treatment effect over all years, with lambs in the MT group consistently taking longer to reach market weight, and an extra 10% emission of CO 2 e per kg of weight gain over the other treatments. There were no significant differences between the other three treatment strategies (NST, SPT and TST) in terms of production efficiency or cumulated GHG emissions over the experimental period. This study has shown that endemic disease control can contribute to a reduction in GHG emissions from animal agriculture and help reduce the carbon footprint of livestock farming.

Evaluation of ‘best practice’ (SCOPS) guidelines for nematode control on commercial sheep farms in England and Wales

“…However, a recent study of 131 beef and 57 sheep farms in England by the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX, 2012) suggested that low carbon farms generally were those that achieve optimum daily live-weight gains and finish as early as possible. A recent UK study, demonstrated that effective management of gastrointestinal parasites can reduce a farm's GHG budget under simulated commercial farming conditions (Kenyon et al, 2013). Further data on commercial farms are required to expand the evidence base and it is possible that further production data from our study will give insight into the impact of sustainable control strategies on potential emissions under different weather patterns.…”

“…Parasitic diseases are a major constraint to optimum livestock production and are the major cause of economic loss in UK sheep flocks with farmers remaining dependant on anthelmintics for control. It has been suggested that animals may emit higher levels of greenhouse gases if growth and production are affected by sub-clinical illness (Gill et al, 2009) and so the development of sustainable strategies that lower methane emissions may contribute significantly to reducing a farm's environmental footprint (Kenyon et al, 2013). With increasing reports of anthelmintic resistance worldwide (dos Santos et al, 2014;Geurden et al, 2014;Karrow et al, 2014), control strategies for gastrointestinal nematodes that minimise the use of anthelmintics are of increasing importance.…”

Control of helminth ruminant infections by 2030

“…Liver fluke in cattle, for instance, is estimated to increase greenhouse gas emissions per affected cow by 10% . Anthelmintic control strategies have been shown to reduce farm-level greenhouse gas emissions (Kenyon et al, 2013). The effect of helminth control on water use remains to be assessed but is likely to be beneficial, given increased thirst in animals affected by protein-losing gastro-enteritis.…”

Using a One Health approach to assess the impact of parasitic disease in livestock: how does it add value?

“…Liver fluke in cattle is estimated to increase greenhouse gas emissions per affected cow by 10% (Elliott et al, 2014;Williams et al, 2015). Kenyon et al (2013) investigated different anthelmintic strategies in sheep and concluded that effective management of gastrointestinal parasites can reduce farm--level greenhouse gas emissions. To the authors' knowledge however, no data on poultry parasites are available.…”