GHG

Question 1

What does GHG do?

Answer 1

GHG regulates the balance between solar energy and energy emitted by the earth (absorb terrestial infrared radiation)

Question 2

GHG produced by livestock

Answer 2

The main GHG produced by livestock are Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Nitrous oxide (N2O)
CO2: Released through respiration and land use changes (e.g., deforestation for grazing/feed production) and fossil fuel use in farming.
CH4: Produced by ruminants during digestion (enteric fermentation).
N2O: Released from manure management and nitrogen-based fertilizers for feed crops.
Ammonia (NH3): Released from manure, contributing to air pollution and soil acidification.
The nitrogen from manure can also leach to water causing eutrophication

Question 3

Mitigation strategies for GHG and N loss

Answer 3

Sustainable intensification: Increase productivity (eg more milk per cow) to lower emissions per product unit through better feeding, health management and genetic selection.
Adopting efficient practises: Use methods from the most efficient farmers, like improving feed quality and better manure management
Feeding strategies: Adjust ruminant diet to reduce methane emissions with feed additives. (Optimize protein in feed to cut nitrogen and use phase feeding)
Manure management: Use treatments, improve storage and apply carefully to reduce ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions.
Land use and carbon storage: Avoid deforestation for pastures and imrpve grassland management to store more carbon in soils