Short communication: Identifying key parameters for modelling the impacts of livestock health conditions on greenhouse gas emissions

R.P Kipling,A Bannink,D.J Bartley,I Blanco-Penedo,P Faverdin,A.-I Graux,N.J Hutchings,I Kyriazakis,M Macleod,S Østergaard,T.P Robinson,A Vitali,B Vosough Ahmadi,Ş Özkan

doi:10.1016/j.animal.2020.100023

Abstract

Improved animal health can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity in livestock systems while increasing productivity. Integrated modelling of disease impacts on farm-scale emissions is important in identifying effective health strategies to reduce emissions. However, it requires that modellers understand the pathways linking animal health to emissions and how these might be incorporated into models. A key barrier to meeting this need has been the lack of a framework to facilitate effective exchange of knowledge and data between animal health experts and emissions modellers. Here, these two communities engaged in workshops, online exchanges and a survey to i) identify a comprehensive list of disease-related model parameters and ii) test its application to evaluating models. Fifty-six parameters were identified and proved effective in assessing the potential of farm-scale models to characterise livestock disease impacts on GHG emissions. Easy wins for the emissions models surveyed include characterising disease impacts related to feeding.

Highlights

A comprehensive list of model parameters required to fully characterise interactions between animal health conditions and dairy farming systems is presented
The list provides a shared framework facilitating collaboration between emissions modellers and animal health experts to better characterise the impact of animal health on greenhouse gas emissions
Defining disease/farm system interactions in the language of model parameters would facilitate the communication of needs between modellers and experimental researchers, enable current farm-scale models to be assessed for their potential to incorporate the impacts of health conditions on emissions, and support improvements in the inter-compatibility of disease models and GHG emissions models

Summary

Introduction

A comprehensive list of model parameters required to fully characterise interactions between animal health conditions and dairy farming systems is presented. The list provides a shared framework facilitating collaboration between emissions modellers and animal health experts to better characterise the impact of animal health on greenhouse gas emissions. This is a vital step towards identifying the most effective farm management actions to reduce disease-related emissions from dairy systems. Our objectives are to: i) Present a comprehensive list of model parameters representing interactions between health conditions and dairy farming systems; and

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion