Abstract
AbstractThe livestock industry is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and there is an increasing demand for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Several studies have shown that feed additives 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate to be effective in reducing enteric methane emissions. The objective of this study was to estimate the net mitigating effect of using 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate on total greenhouse gas emissions in California dairy industry. A life cycle assessment approach was used to conduct a cradle-to-farm gate environmental impact analysis based on dairy production system in California. Emissions associated with crop production, feed additive production, enteric methane, farm management, and manure storage were calculated and expressed as kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per kg of energy corrected milk. The total greenhouse gas emissions from baseline, two 3-nitroxypropanol and three nitrate scenarios were 1.12, 0.993, 0.991, 1.08, 1.07, and 1.09 kg CO2e/kg energy corrected milk. The average net reduction rates for 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate were 11.7% and 3.95%, respectively. In both cases, using the feed additives on the whole herd slightly improved overall carbon footprint reduction compared to limiting its use during lactation phase. Although both 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate had effects on decreasing the total greenhouse gas emission, the former was much more effective with no known safety issues in reducing the carbon footprint of dairy production in California.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Reference43 articles.
1. Gerber PJ , Steinfeld H , Henderson B , Mottet A , Opio C , Dijk-man J , et al. Tackling climate change through livestock: a global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); 2013.
2. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service [Internet], Charts and Maps: Milk Production and Milk Cows. 2019 [cited 2020 Apr 7]. Available from: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Milk_Production_and_Milk_Cows/milkprod.php
3. California Department of Food and Agriculture [Internet]. 2019 State Agriculture Overview— California. 2019 [cited 2020 Apr 7]. Available from: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/Ag_Overview/stateOverview.php?state=CALIFORNIA
4. Greenhouse gas, water, and land footprint per unit of production of the California dairy industry over 50 years
5. SPECIAL TOPICS — Mitigation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from animal operations: I. A review of enteric methane mitigation options1