Abstract
Livestock systems in the tropics can contribute to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing carbon accumulation. We quantified C stocks and GHG emissions of 30 dual-purpose cattle farms in Nicaragua using farm inventories and lifecycle analysis. Trees in silvo-pastoral systems were the main C stock above-ground (16–24 Mg ha-1), compared with adjacent secondary forests (43 Mg C ha-1). We estimated that methane from enteric fermentation contributed 1.6 kg CO2-eq., and nitrous oxide from excreta 0.4 kg CO2-eq. per kg of milk produced. Seven farms that we classified as climate-smart agriculture (CSA) out of 16 farms had highest milk yields (6.2 kg cow-1day-1) and lowest emissions (1.7 kg CO2-eq. per kg milk produced). Livestock on these farms had higher-quality diets, especially during the dry season, and manure was managed better. Increasing the numbers of CSA farms and improving CSA technology will require better enabling policy and incentives such as payments for ecosystem services.
Highlights
Livestock production occupies two-thirds (34 Mkm2) of the worlds agricultural land (49 Mkm2) for production of animal feed, while a quarter (3.5 Mkm2) of the crop area (15.2 Mkm2) produces animal feed [1,2,3]
We report estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in kg CO2-eq-1 (FPCM) and-1 (LWG)
About 90% of the study region is occupied by mixed crop-livestock farms
Summary
Livestock production occupies two-thirds (34 Mkm2) of the worlds agricultural land (49 Mkm2) for production of animal feed (grazed pastures, 80%, and feed crop, 20%), while a quarter (3.5 Mkm2) of the crop area (15.2 Mkm2) produces animal feed [1,2,3]. Global demand for livestock products, principally milk and meat, is expected to double by 2050, in developing countries [7, 8]. Livestock production is responsible for over 50% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture [9,10,11], accounting for 7.1 billion t CO2-eq yr-1. Emissions from the livestock sector represent 14.5% of anthropogenic emissions [12], with beef and milk cattle accounting for 41% and 21%, respectively [13]
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