Measurement and mitigation of methane emissions from beef cattle in tropical grazing systems: a perspective from Australia and Brazil

Beef cattle contribute ~7% of anthropocentric greenhouse gas emissions in Australia through the release of methane into the atmosphere. Cattle in northern Australia produce more methane per unit of beef produced because tropical grasses are generally of poor quality and elicit slower average growth rates. In this paper the level of emissions from different herds and some strategies to reduce emissions are estimated with a daily time-step model. The results indicate that few options exist to reduce methane emissions from extensive grazing systems without reducing beef production. Options to improve production or feed conversion efficiencies can generate lower levels of emissions per kg of beef produced, but can be expected to lead to increased livestock numbers and higher overall methane emissions. A woodland grazing case study from central Queensland suggests the opportunity cost of reducing each kg of methane emissions by reducing stocking rates ranges from 1.0 to 1.2 kg of liveweight beef production. A price of $23 per t of carbon dioxide equivalent would indicate that opportunity costs (ignoring fixed costs of production) of reducing emissions by adjusting stocking rates would range between $0.39 and $0.49 per kg of beef produced.

Download Full-text

A Physiological-Monitoring Electronic Platform for Cattle Grazing Systems

International Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Information Systems ◽

10.4018/ijaeis.2020070101 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Ricardo R. Santos ◽

Fabiana V. Alves ◽

Patrik O. Bressan ◽

Ricardo E. Aguiar ◽

Wellington O. Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Skin Temperature ◽

Mobile Device ◽

Electronic Device ◽

Cattle Grazing ◽

Physiological Data ◽

Physiological Monitoring ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Grazing Systems

In this work, we present a non-invasive electronic platform for physiological data acquisition on cattle grazing systems. The platform can be used for dairy and beef cattle to continuously monitor physiological variables such as skin temperature, heartbeats, and respiratory frequency. The set of sensors are coupled into a halter so that they are in touch with the animal's forehead. Users can monitor the data acquired by the electronic device using a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) and it visualizes important physiological parameters in the platform cloud system.

Download Full-text

Estimation of enteric methane emissions trends (1990–2008) from Manitoba beef cattle using empirical and mechanistic models

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas2010-009 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 305-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Aklilu Alemu ◽

K. H. Ominski ◽

E. Kebreab

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

Mechanistic Models ◽

Tier 2 ◽

Cattle Population ◽

Production Environment ◽

Feed Composition ◽

Enteric Methane ◽

Empirical And Mechanistic Models ◽

Enteric Methane Emissions

Alemu, A. W., Ominski, K. H. and Kebreab, E. 2011. Estimation of enteric methane emissions trends (1990–2008) from Manitoba beef cattle using empirical and mechanistic models. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 305–321. The objective of this study was to estimate and assess trends in enteric methane (CH4) emissions from the Manitoba beef cattle population from the base year of 1990 to 2008 using mathematical models. Two empirical (statistical) models: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 and a nonlinear equation (Ellis), and two dynamic mechanistic models: MOLLY (v3) and COWPOLL were used. Beef cattle in Manitoba were categorized in to 29 distinct subcategories based on management practice, physiological status, gender, age and production environment. Data on animal performance, feeding and management practices and feed composition were collected from the literature as well as from provincial and national sources. Estimates of total enteric CH4 production from the Manitoba beef cattle population varied between 0.9 and 2.4 Mt CO2 eq. from 1990 to 2008. Regardless of the type of models used, average CH4 emissions for 2008 were estimated to be 45.2% higher than 1990 levels. More specifically, CH4 emissions tended to increase between 1990 and 1996. Emissions were relatively stable between 1996 and 2002, increased between 2003 and 2005, but declined by 13.2% between 2005 and 2008, following the same trend as that observed in the beef cattle population. Models varied in their estimates of CH4 conversion rate (Ym, percent gross energy intake), emission factor (kg CH4 head−1 yr−1) and CH4 production. Total CH4 production estimates ranged from 1.2 to 2.0 Mt CO2 eq. for IPCC Tier 2, from 0.9 to 1.5 Mt CO2 eq. for Ellis, from 1.3 to 2.1 Mt CO2 eq. for COWPOLL and from 1.5 to 2.4 Mt CO2 eq. for MOLLY. The results indicate that enteric CH4 estimates and emission trends in Manitoba were influenced by the type of model and beef cattle population. As such, it is necessary to use appropriate models for reliable estimates for enteric CH4 inventory. A more robust approach may be to integrate different models by using mechanistic models to estimate regional Ym values, which may then be used as input for the IPCC Tier 2 model.

Download Full-text

114 Alterations of the rumen bacterial and archaeal communities in growing and finishing beef cattle and its effects on methane emissions

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/msasas2016-114 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 (suppl_2) ◽

pp. 53-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. L. Knoell ◽

C. L. Anderson ◽

A. C. Pesta ◽

G. E. Erickson ◽

T. J. Klopfenstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

Bacterial And Archaeal Communities ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle ◽

Archaeal Communities

Download Full-text

Seasonal effects on ammonia, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions for beef cattle excreta and urea fertilizer applied to a tropical pasture

Soil and Tillage Research ◽

10.1016/j.still.2019.104341 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 194 ◽

pp. 104341 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Abmael da Silva Cardoso ◽

Serena Capriogli Oliveira ◽

Estella Rosseto Janusckiewicz ◽

Liziane Figueiredo Brito ◽

Eliane da Silva Morgado ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrous Oxide ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

Seasonal Effects ◽

Tropical Pasture ◽

Urea Fertilizer

Download Full-text

Effects of Propionibacterium strains on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility and methane emissions in beef cattle fed a corn grain finishing diet

animal ◽

10.1017/s1751731114001657 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 1807-1815 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

D. Vyas ◽

E.J. McGeough ◽

R. Mohammed ◽

S.M. McGinn ◽

T.A. McAllister ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Ruminal Fermentation ◽

Corn Grain

Download Full-text

PSXI-29 Assessing enteric methane emissions from Nellore and Angus-Nellore crossbred cattle in a tropical, intensive beef cattle production system

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.757 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 380-381

Author(s):

Isabella Cristina F Maciel ◽

Fabiano A Barbosa ◽

Thierry R Tomich ◽

Ramon C Alvarenga ◽

Ludhiana R Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Sulfur Hexafluoride ◽

Methane Emissions ◽

Ch4 Production ◽

Trial Onset ◽

Enteric Methane ◽

Grazing Period ◽

Tropical Climates ◽

The Impact ◽

Enteric Methane Emissions

Abstract Crossbreeding has been used to improve performance in beef cattle; however, the effects of breed composition on methane production, yield and intensity from cattle in a tropical intensive system remain unknown. To assess the impact of breed composition on enteric methane emissions, Nellore (NE; yr 1: BW = 171.5 ± 19.4 kg; n = 10; yr 2: BW = 215.8 ± 32.3 kg, n = 25) and Angus-Nellore crossbred (AN; yr 1: BW = 214.2 ± 26.4 kg, n = 10; yr 2: BW = 242.5 ± 32.2 kg, n = 25) were compared. At trial onset, 10 mo old steers grazed Megathyrsus maximus ‘Mombaça’ in the grazing period (GP) and then were finished in a feedlot (FL) (35:65% corn silage:concentrate diet). Steers (n = 8) from each breed composition were randomly selected in GP and FL to measure CH4 production using a sulfur hexafluoride technique and DMI using titanium dioxide. The NE produced 19% less CH4 than AN in GP (17.21 vs 21.17 kg, P < 0.01), and no difference was observed in FL (22.34 vs 22.67 kg, P > 0.10). However, in FL, NE had greater CH4 intensity (CH4/ADG) compared to AN (122.76 vs 97.49 g/kg, P < 0.01). Furthermore, CH4/carcass weight was greater for NE than AN (0.079 vs 0.067 g/kg CW, P < 0.01). Breed composition did not influence CH4 yield (CH4/DMI) in either phase. The percentage CH4/GEI (Ym) for GP was higher for AN than NE (4.5 vs 3.8%), but lower than the IPCC recommended Ym of 6.5%. In FL, Ym was similar between breed composition (5.0%) and greater than the IPCC Ym of 3%. In our study the introduction of Angus into Nellore has potential to reduce CH4 intensity in tropical climates, resulting in less methane emission per kg beef produced.

Download Full-text