Abstract
The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of published literature on ammonia (NH3) and enteric methane (CH4) emissions from beef and dairy cattle operations to obtain statistically representative emission factors based on dietary intakes of nutrients or energy, and to identify major causes of emission variations. NH3 emissions from lagoon or other manure storage facilities were not included in this review. The NH3 and CH4 emission rates, expressed as a percentage losses of dietary nutrients or energy, demonstrated much less variation compared with emission rates expressed in g/animal/day. Air temperature and dietary crude protein (CP) content were identified as two major factors that can affect NH3 emission rates in addition to farm type. Feed digestibility and energy intake were identified as two major factors that can affect CH4 emission rates expressed as a percentage losses of dietary energy. Generally, increasing productivity and feed efficiency represented the greatest opportunity for mitigating NH3 or CH4 emissions per unit of livestock product. Expressing CH4 loss on a digestible energy basis rather than a gross energy intake basis can better represent the large variation among diets and the effects of varying dietary emission mitigation strategies.
Highlights
Beef and dairy cattle operations emit gases into the atmosphere from animal feed digestion and manure decomposition
The NH3 and CH4 emission expressed as percentage losses of dietary nutrients or energy both demonstrated much less variation compared with emission rates expressed in g/animal/day
Improving nutrient management at the farm level and reducing protein intake have been considered as relatively easy ways of reducing NH3 emissions from cattle operations [36]
Summary
Beef and dairy cattle operations emit gases into the atmosphere from animal feed digestion (enteric fermentation) and manure decomposition. Enteric fermentation and manure management of livestock production are responsible for 2.2% and 1.1% of the total human-induced GHG emissions in the U.S, respectively, and cattle operations are considered the major contributors within the various livestock species [2]. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of published literature on NH3 and CH4 emissions from beef and dairy cattle operations in order to obtain statistically representative emission factors based on intakes of dietary nutrients or energy, and to identify major causes of emission variations.
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