Carbon balance in animal production systems: Emission sources and mitigation options

Global climate change has intensified in recent years, the main cause of which is attributed to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. The three main GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Animal production operations can be a big emitter of these gases. The present paper reviews the main emission sources and mitigation options for these gases. Avoiding deforestation and including trees in production systems are the main alternatives for mitigating CO2 emissions. The production of CH4 can be reduced by including dietary ingredients that alter the rumen fermentation and, by lowering the age at the slaughter of meat animals. The N2O emissions can be reduced by increasing nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen fertilizer management. Measuring the magnitude of GHG emissions and mitigation options represents a great opportunity for future research in animal science

Biochar Enhances Nitrous Oxide Reduction in Acidic but Not in Near-Neutral pH Soil

We quantified nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes and total denitrification (N2O + N2) in an acidic (Ferralsol) and a near-neutral pH soil (Cambisol) to determine whether biochar’s alkalinization effect could be the mechanism inducing potential reductions in N2O fluxes. In Ferralsol, decreases in N2O emissions and in the N2O to N2O + N2 ratio were observed in both biochar and lime treatments. In Cambisol, neither biochar nor lime decreased N2O emissions, despite significantly increasing soil pH. The abundance and community structure of nosZ gene-bearing microorganisms indicated that gene abundances did not explain biochar effects, but a higher diversity of nosZ gene-bearing microorganisms correlated to lower total denitrification. Overall, our results suggest that biochar’s potential to decrease N2O emissions, through soil alkalinization, may be more effective in acidic soils

Biochar and soil nitrous oxide emissions

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions. The experiment was carried out in pots under greenhouse conditions. Four levels of ground commercial charcoal of 2 mm (biochar) were evaluated in a sandy Albaqualf (90% of sand): 0, 3, 6, and Mg ha-1. All treatments received 100 kg ha-1 of N as urea. A cubic effect of biochar levels was observed on the N 2O. Biochar doses above 5 Mg ha-1 started to mitigate the emissions in the evaluated soil. However, lower doses promote the emissions.The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions. The experiment was carried out in pots under greenhouse conditions. Four levels of ground commercial charcoal of 2 mm (biochar) were evaluated in a sandy Albaqualf (90% of sand): 0, 3, 6, and 9 Mg ha-1. All treatments received 100 kg ha-1 of N as urea. A cubic effect of biochar levels was observed on the N2O emissions. Biochar doses above 5 Mg ha-1 started to mitigate the emissions in the evaluated soil. However, lower doses promote the emissions

Advances in Pasture Management and Animal Nutrition to Optimize Beef Cattle Production in Grazing Systems

The increasing demand of meat requires the adoption of sustainable intensification livestock systems, applying nutritional strategies to reduce any negative contribution from beef cattle to global warming and, at the same time, to increase animal performance and productive efficiency. The pasture management practices and feed supplementation, mainly using non-edible feed with less costs, could minimize environmental and social impacts, resulting in higher productivity with less inputs utilization. Tropical grass submitted to grazing management according to plant height present high soluble protein and low levels of indigestible neutral detergent fiber contents. Energy or rumen undegradable protein supplementation, associated to alternative additives to antibiotics effects, such as probiotics, tannin, essential oils and saponin, can help to fully exploit the animal genetic potential and nutrient utilization efficiency, which decreases greenhouse gases emissions and improves animal performance. Hence, more information about these tools can make the livestock systems in tropical pasture more efficient and eco-friendlier

Nitrogen efficiency in marandupalisadegrass pastures under increasing nitrogen levels

ABSTRACT: The use of nitrogen (N) in pastoral ecosystems leads to increased productivity, as it allows the plant to elongate its leaves and, therefore, grazing herbivores harvest the green leaves. However, there are very volatile N sources, which can be replaced by ammonium nitrate, which is less volatile and less dependent on the application in rainy days. The treatments are compound of Marandu palisade grass pastures managed under continuous stocking at a canopy height of 25 cm, with different levels of N fertilizer: 0, 75, and 150 kg ha-1year-1, as ammonium nitrate (32% of N), with four replicates (pastures) in a completely randomized design. Nitrogen uptake (54.9, 96.5, 113.8 kg N ha-1) and N nutrition index (0.67, 0.98, 1.15) were different between N level, respectively, 0, 75 and 150 kg ha-1 year-1. The N recovery (58.3, 40.9 %) differed between 75 and 150 kg ha-1 year-1, respectively. The dose of 75 kg N kg ha-1 year-1 results in better N utilization, while the dose of 150 kg N ha-1 year-1 enables greater stocking rate; therefore, requiring less grazing area

Greenhouse gas emissions and N2o mitigation in beef cattle production on tropical pasture

Metano (CH4) e óxido nitroso (N2O) são dois dos mais importantes gases de efeito estufa emitidos pela pecuária. Eles são produzidos pelas excretas dos animais e fertilizantes. No Brasil, a quantidade emitida destes gases e opções para mitigação foram pouco exploradas. Uma sequência de 4 experimentos foram realizados em campo (em duas estações chuvosas e duas secas, 106 dias de duração cada) com o objetivo de quantificar as emissões de N2O e CH4, volatilização de NH3 e o fator de emissão (FE) quando aplicadas fezes, urina, fezes + urina e fertilizante ureia em Latossolo Vermelho cultivado com capim-marandu. Investigou-se o efeito da umidade do solo e compactação, composição da urina, volume urinário, e adição de fezes sobre as emissões de N2O em um Latossolo recebendo urina manipulada em condições controladas, bem como nas emissões de CH4. Como opção para mitigar as emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) foram estudadas as variáveis como as alturas de pastejo que afetam a magnitude das emissões de GEE; a influência estacional na produção e consumo dos GEE; quais são as variáveis chaves associadas com as emissões de GEE em pastagens de capim-marandu. Adicionalmente, investigou se o efeito dietético dos níveis do sal mineral na concentração de N na urina, o volume urinário, a proporção dos compostos nitrogenados na urina e a concentração de N nas fezes em condições de campo. Os FEs de N2O quantificados diferiram de acordo com a excreta e estação do ano. O FEs foram 2,34%, 4.26% e 3,95% na estação chuvosa e 3.00%, 1.35% e 1.59% na estação seca, respectivamente, para fezes, urina e fezes + urina. O FE do fertilizante ureia foi 0,37%. As emissões médias do CH4 acumuladas foram 99,72, 7,82 e 28,64 (mg C-CH4 m2) para fezes, urina e fezes + urina nesta sequência. Quando manipuladas as condições do solo como umidade, compactação e adição de fezes as emissões de N2O foram influenciadas sendo maiores nos tratamentos com adição de fezes. Ao se variar a concentração do N-urinário aplicado (em igual volume de urina) afetou a produção de N2O diminuindo as emissões da maior para a menor concentração de N aplicada e não foi observado efeito ao se variar o volume de urina aplicado (contendo igual concentração de N-urinário). A concentração de KCl adicionada na urina afetou as emissões de N2O de forma curvilínea enquanto o tipo de composto nitrogenado não. Ao se estudar as emissões de CH4 estas responderam aos fatores do solo como umidade, compactação e adição de fezes e não foram afetadas pela variação da concentração de N-urinário e volumes de urina. A fonte de nitrogênio aplicada não afetou a produção/oxidação de CH4. A altura do pasto, estação e ano afetaram as emissões de N2O e CO2 e a estação as de CH4. As maiores emissões ocorreram no verão e as menores no inverno. A altura do pasto apresentou efeito linear negativo nas emissões de N2O acumuladas anual e linear positivo nas emissões de CO2. O efeito dietético dos níveis de sal mineral influenciaram a concentração de N-urinário, volume de urina, N-ureia, N-alantoína e N-ácido hipurico. A concentração de N-urinário apresentou efeito negativo linear, o volume de urina, N-ureia, N-alantoína e N-ácido hipúrico positivo linear. Enquanto que a excreção total de N excretado via urina, N-creatinina e concentração de N nas fezes não foram afetadas pelos níveis de sal mineral na dieta. As emissões de CH4, N2O e NH3 diferiram dos FEs defaults preconizados pelo IPCC. A umidade e a compactação do solo podem ser os principais fatores que regulam as emissões de N2O e CH4 e depende da variação sazonal da precipitação pluviométrica.CH4 and N2O are two of the most important greenhouse gas emitted by livestock. They are produced from animal excretes and the fertilizer. In Brazil the amount and options to mitigate these gases are little explored. We carried out a sequence of 4 field-trials (two rainy and two dry season, 106 days each) aimed to quantify the N2O and CH4 emissions, NH3 volatilization and emission factor (EF) after application of dung, urine, dung + urine and urea fertilizer on a Ferralsol of a marandu palisade-grass pastureland of Brazil. We aimed to investigate the effects of soil moisture, soil compaction, urine composition, urine volume, and dung addition on N2O emission from a urine-treated tropical Ferralsol under controlled conditions as well on CH4 emission. As option to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions we studied how grazing heights affect the magnitude of GHG emissions; how season influence GHG production and consumption; what are the key driving variables associated with GHG emissions. Additionally, we investigated the effect of dietary mineral salt levels on urine-N concentration, urine volume, the proportion of N compounds in the urine and faeces-N concentration under field conditions. The emissions factor (EF) calculated differed according excretes and season. The EFs were 2.34%, 4.26% and 3.95% in the rainy season and 3.00%, 1.35% and 1.59% in the dry season, respectively, for the dung patches, urine patches and dung + urine. The N2O EF from urea was 0.37%. The averages of CH4 accumulated emissions were 99.72, 7.82 and 28.64 (mg CH4-C m2) for dung, urine and dung + urine in this sequence. The manipulated soil conditions moisture content, compaction, and dung addition affected N2O emissions when varying quantities of urine-N were applied (in equal urine volumes) being higher when added dung and did not affect when varying urine volumes were applied (containing equal quantities of urine-N). The urine-N concentration influenced N2O emissions decreasing from the lower concentration to the higher and the chemical form of urine-N did not. The concentration of KCl added to the urine influenced N2O emissions presenting a curvilinear curve. When the CH4 emissions were influenced by soil factors moisture content, compaction and dung addition and did not responded to the variation in the urine-N concentration and volume. The source of N did not influence the CH4 emissions/oxidation. Pasture height, season and year affect N2O and CO2 emissions and the season CH4 releases. The greater emissions occurred in the summer and the lower in the winter. Pasture height had negative linear effect on annual cumulative N2O emissions and positive linear effect on annual cumulative CO2 emissions. Dietary effects of mineral salt level influenced the N concentration in the urine, urine volume, urea-N, allantoin-N and hyppuric acid. While the total N excreted daily via urine, creatinine-N and N concentration in feces were not affected by mineral salt level in the diet. The emissions of CH4, N2O and NH3 differs that default EFs preconized by the IPCC. Soil moisture and compaction appear to be the main factors regulating N2O and CH4 emissions and depends of the rainfall seasonality.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Biochar Enhances Nitrous Oxide Reduction in Acidic but Not in Near-Neutral pH Soil

We quantified nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes and total denitrification (N2O + N2) in an acidic (Ferralsol) and a near-neutral pH soil (Cambisol) to determine whether biochar’s alkalinization effect could be the mechanism inducing potential reductions in N2O fluxes. In Ferralsol, decreases in N2O emissions and in the N2O to N2O + N2 ratio were observed in both biochar and lime treatments. In Cambisol, neither biochar nor lime decreased N2O emissions, despite significantly increasing soil pH. The abundance and community structure of nosZ gene-bearing microorganisms indicated that gene abundances did not explain biochar effects, but a higher diversity of nosZ gene-bearing microorganisms correlated to lower total denitrification. Overall, our results suggest that biochar’s potential to decrease N2O emissions, through soil alkalinization, may be more effective in acidic soil

Effects of Replacing Cottonseed Meal with Corn Dried Distillers’ Grain on Ruminal Parameters, Performance, and Enteric Methane Emissions in Young Nellore Bulls Reared in Tropical Pastures

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing cottonseed meal with DDG on ruminal parameters, methane (CH4) emissions (Experiment 1), and animal performance (Experiment 2) of young Nellore bulls grazing Marandu grass during the rainy season. Four supplementation strategies were used in both experiments: (1) Mineral supplementation (MS); (2) conventional multiple supplement (energy/protein) with cottonseed meal and citrus pulp (CMS); (3) CMS with 50% cottonseed meal replaced by DDG (50DDG); and (4) CMS with 100% cottonseed meal replaced by DDG (100DDG). The 50DDG condition resulted in greater intake of dry matter (p = 0.033), organic matter (OM) (p = 0.050), forage (p = 0.035), and digestible OM (p = 0.031) than 100DDG. The supplemented animals presented greater final body weight (BW) and average daily gain than the animals consuming MS (p = 0.011), and lower pH, acetate, and acetate:propionate (p < 0.05). However, the treatments had no influence on stocking rate, gain per area, and enteric CH4 emissions (p > 0.05). Replacing cottonseed meal with DDG does not result in great variations in ruminal parameters, animal performance, and enteric CH4 emissions of grazing Nellore cattle during the rearing phase in the wet season. Both protein sources in 0.3% BW supplementation can be used to intensify beef cattle production in pastures

Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Beef Cattle Production in Brazil through Animal Management

Beef cattle production is an important agricultural activity in Brazil, which influences environmental and resource consumption. This study analyzed greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts from 17 farms, representing the Brazil’s productive system and determined possible improvements in the production chain. Methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions were evaluated using the updated Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines for national inventories. The GHG inventory included emissions from animals, feeds, and “cradle-to-farm-gate” operations for animal management. Regression analyses of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) emissions and productive indices were performed to identify possible GHG emission hotspots. The results varied considerably among the farms. The GHG yield ranged from 8.63 to 50.88 CO2eq kg carcass−1. The productive indices of average daily gain (p p = 0.058), and slaughtering age (p p = 0.21). The production chain could be improved through accurate animal management strategies that reduce the slaughtering age and daily weight gain individually or per area using pasture management and strategic animal supplementation, which could subsequently reduce GHG emissions in beef cattle production

Response of Phytogenic Additives on Enteric Methane Emissions and Animal Performance of Nellore Bulls Raised in Grassland

The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake and digestibility of nutrients, emission of enteric CH4, and productive performance of Nellore bulls grazing Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu palisade grass pastures during the rainy season, receiving an energy supplement or mineral supplement, with or without the inclusion of phytogenic additives. Forty-eight Nellore bulls were treated with: (1) energy supplement without the inclusion of phytogenic additives; (2) energy supplement with the inclusion of phytogenic additives; (3) mineral supplement without the inclusion of phytogenic additives; and (4) mineral supplement with the inclusion of phytogenic additives. Consumption of total dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), apNDF, and energy; digestibility of DM, CP, and energy; average daily gain; stocking rate; and gain per area were higher in animals consuming energy supplements than those consuming mineral supplements. Digestibility of DM, NDF, and energy levels were lower in animals that consumed phytogenic additives. Compared with mineral supplements, the supply of energy supplements provides higher nutrient intake, increases enteric CH4 emission, and improves nutrient digestibility, providing a greater productive performance. The inclusion of phytogenic additives negatively affected nutrient intake and digestibility, did not reduce enteric CH4 emission, and influenced productive performance