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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #290920
Title: Nutritional and management strategies to mitigate animal greenhouse gas emissions

Author
item HRISTOV, ALEXANDER - Pennsylvania State University
item OH, JOONPYO - Pennsylvania State University
item LEE, CHANHEE - Pennsylvania State University
item MEINEN, ROBERT - Pennsylvania State University
item MONTES, FELIPE - Pennsylvania State University
item OTT, TROY - Pennsylvania State University
item FIRKINS, JEFF - Pennsylvania State University
item Rotz, Clarence - Al
item Dell, Curtis
item ADESOGAN, ADEGBOLA - University Of Florida
item YANG, WENZHU - Agri Food - Canada
item TRICARICO, JUAN - Innovation Center For Us Dairy
item KEBREAB, ERMIAS - University Of California
item WAGHORN, GARRY - Dairy Nz, Ltd
item DIJKSTRA, JAN - Wageningen University
item OOSTING, SIMON - Wageningen University
item GERBER, PIERRE - Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO)
item HENDERSON, BENJAMIN - Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO)
item MAKKAR, HARINDER - Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO)

Submitted to: Ruminant Nutrition Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2013
Publication Date: 2/5/2013
Citation: Hristov, A.N., Oh, J., Lee, C., Meinen, R., Montes, F., Ott, T., Firkins, J., Rotz, C.A., Dell, C.J., Adesogan, A., Yang, W., Tricarico, J., Kebreab, E., Waghorn, G., Dijkstra, J., Oosting, S., Gerber, P.J., Henderson, B., Makkar, H. 2013. Nutritional and management strategies to mitigate animal greenhouse gas emissions. IN: Ruminant Nutrition Conference Proceedings, February 5-6, 2013, Gainesville, Florida. p. 1-8.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Animal production is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. The current analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential of nutritional, manure and animal management practices for mitigating methane and nitrous oxide, i.e. non-carbon dioxide GHG emissions from enteric fermentation and manure decomposition. These practices were categorized into enteric methane, manure management-based, and animal management-based mitigation practices. Emphasis was placed on enteric methane mitigation practices for ruminant animals and manure management-based mitigation practices for both ruminant and monogastric species. Improving forage quality and the overall efficiency of dietary nutrient use is an effective way of decreasing GHG emissions per unit of animal product. Several feed supplements have potential to reduce enteric methane emission from ruminants, although their long-term effect has not been well-established and some are toxic or may not be economically feasible in developing countries. Several manure management practices have a significant potential for decreasing GHG emissions from manure storage and after application or deposition on soil. Interactions among individual components of livestock production systems are very complex, but must be considered when recommending GHG mitigation practices. One practice may successfully mitigate enteric methane emission, but increase fermentable substrate in manure and thus increase GHG emissions from land-applied manure. Some mitigation practices are synergistic and are expected to decrease both enteric and manure GHG emissions (for example, improved animal health and animal productivity). Optimizing animal productivity can be a very successful strategy for mitigating GHG emissions from the livestock sector in both developed and developing countries.