Animal and the Environment Flashcards
What is sustainability?
-systems that balance social acceptability, economic viability, and environmental responsibility
-too complex for 1 blanket, global solution
-focus on providing for today without inhibiting the ability to provide for tomorrow
-in agriculture, conflicts between demand and resource scarcity
-social media often fails to reflect complexity
What are the primary polluting risks from livestock in manure (water)
-Nitrogen (N)
-Phosphorus (P)
Water
-manure stored until applied to field
-excess N and P in water stimulates eutrophication
-eutrophication: increase in algae and small plants
-cloudy water
-depletes beneficial plants, fish, other aquatic species
Clean water act
-environmental protection agency has power to protect water
-regulations vary by state
Best water practices
-maintain manure holding structures to minimize runoff
-don’t apply manure when ground is wet or frozen
-apply manure carefully to avoid over fertilizing
-keep livestock out of water
-prevent overgrazing
What about water use?
-1 pound beef: 1,847 gal. water, 97% “green” rainwater
-livestock: 1% water use in US, does not include water for irrigating crops
-thermoelectric power uses the most water
Land Use
-1/4 all land
-2/3 of all land is “marginal” agricultural land used for livestock (ruminants)
-1/3 of agricultural land is arable agricultural land used for crops
Crop allocation in US
-57% of crops produced in US utilized for animal feed
-38% of corn and 90% soybeans grown in US used for animals
-But, also by-products, ethanol, biodiesel, crop residues
Air quality
-increased dust
-odors: can travel up to 3 miles, permit process and public comment periods
Climate Change
-manure, rumination, feed production, transport=gas emissions
-contribute to greenhouse gases and climate change
How does climate change work?
Greenhouse effect
-light from sun passes through atmosphere
-radiated as heat
-greenhouse gases trap this heat in the atmosphere, warming the surface of the earth
What are the primary greenhouse gases?
-carbon dioxide
-methane
-nitrous oxide
Animal Agriculture and Emissions
-According to EPA agriculture accounts for 10% US emissions
-methane and manure emissions account for around 1/3 of this
-rest soil and fertilization related
-fossil fuels regarded as the main contribution to climate change
Sources of livestock emissions
The main sources are feed production, fermentation, and manure management
Reducing livestock
-Enteric fermentation: increase fermentation efficiency, diet manipulation
-Manure: change storage techniques, biogas production
-Animal management/selection
Increased efficiency improves sustainability
-in 1950 there were 25 million dairy cows, today there are 9 million dairy cows
-60% more milk
-2/3 reduction in carbon footprint
Using manure for fuel
-in some species manure collected and held
-bacterial breakdown of this manure produces gases (methane)
-can cover tank to encourage anerobic bacteria and capture methane
-clean and use methane for fuel
-mostly dairy, some pigs
Would reducing meat consumption help?
-35% reduction in dietary greenhouse gas emissions if animal product consumption decreased 50%
-more if decrease global emissions
-only accounts for diet emissions
-Average American consumes 50.1lbs meat/year
-similar reductions achieved if everyone drove 10% less
Food Waste
-in the US, nearly 40% of food wasted
-Also waste 32% fresh water, 4% energy, 20% land
-25% increase methane
-nearly all of this is at the consumer level (44% residential, 33% restaurants)
Improving sustainability of agriculture
-crop rotation
-rotational grazing
-feed animals less human food
-raise regionally appropriate animals
-keep animals healthy
-improving efficiency: breeding, nutrition, management
-manure treatment and management
