Effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regions
Livestock directly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, mainly through enteric fermentation and to a lesser extent manure management. Livestock feed composition plays a crucial role in diet quality and the resulting emissions from livestock. Diet composition varies seasonally particularly in trop...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| author | J.Y. Mutua A.J. Duncan T.P. Robinson S. Fraval A.M.O. Notenbaert G.R. Watmough |
| author_facet | J.Y. Mutua A.J. Duncan T.P. Robinson S. Fraval A.M.O. Notenbaert G.R. Watmough |
| author_sort | J.Y. Mutua |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Livestock directly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, mainly through enteric fermentation and to a lesser extent manure management. Livestock feed composition plays a crucial role in diet quality and the resulting emissions from livestock. Diet composition varies seasonally particularly in tropical environments with long dry periods. However, existing data have uncertainties resulting from data collection challenges and the assumption of a constant annual distribution of diet composition. This study investigated the potential impact of spatial and temporal variations in livestock feed composition on diet quality and enteric methane emissions in Kenya, as a case study. Spatially explicit data on crop distribution and land use were combined with feed quality data to generate livestock diet composition maps. Results indicate that current livestock emission estimates can vary considerably from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default values depending on the location and season. Average livestock diet quality expressed as dry matter digestibility (DMD) was estimated to be 56.7% which was greater than the default digestibility value of 55.0% set by the IPCC for livestock production systems in the region. Estimated minimum and maximum DMD differed within and between livestock production systems demonstrating uncertainty and potential spatial and temporal variability. Estimated enteric methane emissions from cattle varied between and within livestock production systems (37.1 – 72.8 kg CH4/head per year), with significant differences between mixed rainfed humid and temperate production systems (P < 0.05). Overall, these variations should be considered when estimating greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production systems. It is crucial to revise default values for production systems to improve results from livestock emission models, thus informing better national-level strategies for emission reduction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1a2fd1a736bd45e1bd4b839d26ef6c70 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1751-7311 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal |
| spelling | doaj-art-1a2fd1a736bd45e1bd4b839d26ef6c702025-01-19T06:24:50ZengElsevierAnimal1751-73112025-01-01191101396Effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regionsJ.Y. Mutua0A.J. Duncan1T.P. Robinson2S. Fraval3A.M.O. Notenbaert4G.R. Watmough5School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Feed and Forage Development, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaIndependent Researcher, United KingdomGlobal Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomTropical Forages Program, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Nairobi, KenyaSchool of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomLivestock directly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, mainly through enteric fermentation and to a lesser extent manure management. Livestock feed composition plays a crucial role in diet quality and the resulting emissions from livestock. Diet composition varies seasonally particularly in tropical environments with long dry periods. However, existing data have uncertainties resulting from data collection challenges and the assumption of a constant annual distribution of diet composition. This study investigated the potential impact of spatial and temporal variations in livestock feed composition on diet quality and enteric methane emissions in Kenya, as a case study. Spatially explicit data on crop distribution and land use were combined with feed quality data to generate livestock diet composition maps. Results indicate that current livestock emission estimates can vary considerably from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default values depending on the location and season. Average livestock diet quality expressed as dry matter digestibility (DMD) was estimated to be 56.7% which was greater than the default digestibility value of 55.0% set by the IPCC for livestock production systems in the region. Estimated minimum and maximum DMD differed within and between livestock production systems demonstrating uncertainty and potential spatial and temporal variability. Estimated enteric methane emissions from cattle varied between and within livestock production systems (37.1 – 72.8 kg CH4/head per year), with significant differences between mixed rainfed humid and temperate production systems (P < 0.05). Overall, these variations should be considered when estimating greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production systems. It is crucial to revise default values for production systems to improve results from livestock emission models, thus informing better national-level strategies for emission reduction.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731124003331Climate changeDiet compositionDM digestibilityGreenhouse gas emissionsLivestock production systems |
| spellingShingle | J.Y. Mutua A.J. Duncan T.P. Robinson S. Fraval A.M.O. Notenbaert G.R. Watmough Effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regions Animal Climate change Diet composition DM digestibility Greenhouse gas emissions Livestock production systems |
| title | Effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regions |
| title_full | Effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regions |
| title_fullStr | Effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regions |
| title_short | Effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regions |
| title_sort | effect of variation in gridded cattle diet composition on estimated enteric methane emissions in data sparse tropical regions |
| topic | Climate change Diet composition DM digestibility Greenhouse gas emissions Livestock production systems |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731124003331 |
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