Predicted methane emissions and metabolizable energy intakes of steers grazing a grass/alfalfa pasture and finished in a feedlot or at pasture using the GrassGro decision support tool

Cohen, R. D. H.; Stevens, James P.; Moore, Andrew D.; Donnelly, J. R.; Freer, M.

doi:10.4141/a03-062

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 16 publications

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“…More research is needed to determine the most cost-effective method of seeding alfalfa and other legumes into improved tame pastures, including no-till methods such as frost seeding, feeding of the seed to cattle, or seed drilling with a notill drill. Indications of reductions in methane emissions from cattle on grass/legume pastures compared to cattle on pure grass stands (McCaughey et al 1997) or when finished in feedlots (Cohen et al 2004), and evidence of lower N 2 O emissions from legume stands than from N fertilized systems (Wagner-Riddle et al 1997), provide additional justification for such efforts.…”

Section: Livestock Productivity and Profitability Of Grazing Managemementioning

confidence: 99%

Management of Canadian prairie region grazed grasslands: Soil C sequestration, livestock productivity and profitability

Lynch¹,

Cohen²,

Fredeen³

et al. 2005

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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. 2005. Management of Canadian prairie region grazed grasslands: Soil C sequestration, livestock productivity and profitability. Can. J. Soil Sci. 85: [183][184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191][192]. The GrassGro model (a computer simulation of management-induced changes in range and pasture forage and livestock productivity) was combined with spreadsheet analyses to estimate the influence of improved grazing practices on soil organic carbon (SOC), and farm profitability, across native rangelands and tame pastures of the southern Canadian Prairies. Improved practices included complementary grazing (CG) and reduced stocking density (RSD) on rangeland; and N fertilization (FERT), seeded grass/legumes grazed continuously (GLGC) or rotationally (GLGR), and RSD on tame pastures. The analysis was stratified into three ecoregions on the basis of similarities in climate and soil type. Averaged over 30 yr and ecoregions, SOC rates of gain through improved management were 5 (RSD) to 26 (CG) kg C ha -1 yr -1 for rangelands, and 86 (RSD), 75 (GLGC), 62 (GLGR) and 222 (FERT) kg C ha -1 yr -1 for tame pastures. Gains with FERT were considered largely negated by associated energy (C) costs, N 2 O emissions, and shifts in grassland species. The CG system alone improved net returns to the producer. The estimated potential combined SOC gain on prairie grazinglands (11.5 Mha) was 1.63 MMT CO 2 yr -1 (or 0.465 MMT C yr -1 ), slightly less than the 1.70 MMT CO 2 yr -1 currently emitted from agricultural soils in Canada. [183][184][185][186][187][188][189][190][191][192]. Les auteurs ont combiné le modèle GrassGro (simulation électronique des incidences des pratiques agricoles sur les fourrages des grands parcours et des pâturages et sur le rendement du bétail) aux analyses par chiffrier pour estimer les répercussions de meilleures pratiques de paissance sur le carbone organique du sol (COS) et sur la rentabilité des exploitations agricoles sur les grands parcours naturels et les prairies artificielles du sud des Prairies canadiennes. Parmi les pratiques améliorées, on retrouve la paissance complémentaire (PC) et la réduc-tion de la densité de peuplement (RDP) pour les grands parcours ou, pour les prairies artificielles, les amendements azotés (ENG), la paissance continue (PCLG) ou en rotation (PRLG) de mélanges de légumineuses/graminées et la RDP. L'analyse a été stratifiée en trois écorégions d'après les similitudes au niveau du climat et du type de sol. Lorsqu'on calcule la moyenne de trente ans et celle des écorégions, on obtient un taux de croissance du COS de 5 (RDP) à 26 (PC) kg de C par hectare et par année pour les grands parcours et de 86 (RDP), 75 (PCLG), 62 (PRLG) et 222 (ENG) kg de C par hectare et par année pour les prairies artificielles. Les gains réal-isés avec les amendements azotés sont dans une large mesure annulés par les coûts connexes de l'énergie, les dégagements de N 2 O et la modification des espèces dans les prairies. La PC améliore à elle seule les recettes nettes de l'éleveur. On estime le gain combin...

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Section: Livestock Productivity and Profitability Of Grazing Managemementioning

confidence: 99%

Management of Canadian prairie region grazed grasslands: Soil C sequestration, livestock productivity and profitability

Lynch¹,

Cohen²,

Fredeen³

et al. 2005

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Methane emissions by beef cattle consuming hay of varying quality in the dry forest ecosystem of Costa Rica

2016

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Ruminant enteric methane mitigation: a review

Cottle

Nolan

Wiedemann³

2011

Anim. Prod. Sci.

279

191

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In Australia, agriculture is responsible for ~17% of total greenhouse gas emissions with ruminants being the largest single source. However, agriculture is likely to be shielded from the full impact of any future price on carbon. In this review, strategies for reducing ruminant methane output are considered in relation to rumen ecology and biochemistry, animal breeding and management options at an animal, farm, or national level. Nutritional management strategies have the greatest short-term impact. Methanogenic microorganisms remove H2 produced during fermentation of organic matter in the rumen and hind gut. Cost-effective ways to change the microbial ecology to reduce H2 production, to re-partition H2 into products other than methane, or to promote methanotrophic microbes with the ability to oxidise methane still need to be found. Methods of inhibiting methanogens include: use of antibiotics; promoting viruses/bacteriophages; use of feed additives such as fats and oils, or nitrate salts, or dicarboxylic acids; defaunation; and vaccination against methanogens. Methods of enhancing alternative H2 using microbial species include: inoculating with acetogenic species; feeding highly digestible feed components favouring ‘propionate fermentations’; and modifying rumen conditions. Conditions that sustain acetogen populations in kangaroos and termites, for example, are poorly understood but might be extended to ruminants. Mitigation strategies are not in common use in extensive grazing systems but dietary management or use of growth promotants can reduce methane output per unit of product. New, natural compounds that reduce rumen methane output may yet be found. Smaller but more permanent benefits are possible using genetic approaches. The indirect selection criterion, residual feed intake, when measured on ad libitum grain diets, has limited relevance for grazing cattle. There are few published estimates of genetic parameters for feed intake and methane production. Methane-related single nucleotide polymorphisms have yet to be used commercially. As a breeding objective, the use of methane/kg product rather than methane/head is recommended. Indirect selection via feed intake may be more cost-effective than via direct measurement of methane emissions. Life cycle analyses indicate that intensification is likely to reduce total greenhouse gas output but emissions and sequestration from vegetation and soil need to be addressed. Bio-economic modelling suggests most mitigation options are currently not cost-effective.

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Predicted methane emissions and metabolizable energy intakes of steers grazing a grass/alfalfa pasture and finished in a feedlot or at pasture using the GrassGro decision support tool

Cited by 3 publications

References 16 publications

Management of Canadian prairie region grazed grasslands: Soil C sequestration, livestock productivity and profitability

Management of Canadian prairie region grazed grasslands: Soil C sequestration, livestock productivity and profitability

Methane emissions by beef cattle consuming hay of varying quality in the dry forest ecosystem of Costa Rica

Ruminant enteric methane mitigation: a review

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