Module 5-mitigating livestocks environmental foot print Flashcards
what is the most rapidly growing sector in agriculture
the livestock industry
by value how much does livestock contribute to the global agriculture production
by 40 percent
how much surface on land do livestock graze
26 percent of the terrestrial surface on earth
how much produce do livestock consume on arable land
33 percent of produce
as the livestock industry increases the environmental impact will also how do we keep this effect under control
steps must be taken to implement practices that will improve livestock sustainability and minimize the environmental footprint while meeting the world’s needs
where do the majority of GHGs come from in extensive livestock production
they stem from ruminant methane production
where do the majority of GHG emissions come from in intensively raised chickens and pigs
from feed production and manure storage
how have GHG preproduction units been reduced
increasing livestock and crop productivity so that fewer resources are required to produce livestock and deforestation and pasture degradation can be reduced
how can you manipulate ruminant feed to reduce methane emissions
increasing the carbon to nitrogen ratio, increasing pasture legumes, and increasing the proportion of grain relative to forage reduce methane emissions. (reduction must be balanced against the higher costs of feed)
how can you breed ruminants to produce less methane
Genetic selection of ruminants that produce less methane and/or are more feed efficient has reduced methane emissions
how can rangelands be managed to reduce emissions
Rangelands can be managed to increase carbon uptake and reduce carbon losses leading to a net negative carbon balance with atmospheric CO2 sequestration in the soil
how do range management practices that enhance carbon sequestration have an added benefit
Management practices that enhance carbon sequestration have the added benefit of enhancing forage production thereby improving livestock production per unit of land
what best management practices are involved in intensive manure storage in intensive practices
involves temperature-controlled manure storage and separation of solid and liquid waste; further benefits can be reaped from manure management through composting to produce value-added products and conversion of manure to biogas
what benefits cone with Composting and methane recovery from manure
reduces pathogen numbers, decreasing soil and water contamination as well as potential risks to humans, other livestock, and wildlife
how can livestock pathogens be controlled
Livestock pathogen loads can be controlled with good management, employing herd health practices, and the utilization of vaccines and immunostimulants
how can we modify livestock production to reduce GHG emissions
1) intensification
2) dietary manipulation
3) genetic selection
4) pasture management
5) manure management
how does intensification reduce GHGs
higher livestock and feed production decreases GHG emissions from deforestation and pasture degradation
how does pasture management reduce GHGs
pasture is the largest anthropogenic use of land, improved management in terms of maintaining sufficient cove, utilizing geographically optimum forage species, controlling grazing, etc… has the potential to sequester carbon and reduce GHG emissions
what is biogas
65% CH4 and 35% CO2 and it can be used to burn and used directly for lighting and heat or fuel generators
how can the health of riparian zones be protected
they can be protected with fencing and properly timed grazing keeping cattle out when the area is fragile or vulnerable, promoting the even distribution of cattle when grazing is allowed, limiting loitering, and providing effective rest periods to allow recovery of plants and the entire ecological zone
if cattle use riparian zones as a water source how can they instead get water
Cattle may be kept out of riparian zones and provided with water from the stream with the use of solar-powered or wind-generated water pumps; the water supply may be further protected by limiting water intake with the use of nose-operated water pumps
how can we decrease the risk of eutrophication
by reducing the Phosphorous levels on the land
what is something you can manage in swine to reduce P
diets
how can managing swine diets reduce the amount of P
diets can be managed to reduce phosphorus inputs through the formulation of diets to reduce the excretion of phytates
what can swine diets be supplemented with to reduct P
Diets can be supplemented with phytase which increases the bioavailability of plant phosphorus or low phytate grains can be incorporated into the diet.
what kind of pig was created at the University of Guelph
researchers at the University of Guelph created a genetically enhanced line of Yorkshire pigs that produced phytase in their saliva. increasing the efficiency with which they are capable of digesting plant phosphorus; however, production of the genetically modified line of pigs (called Enviropig) was shut down
before applying manure what should be done
The phosphorus content of manure and soil should be determined prior to application of manure so the application is better tailored to suit the needs of the land
what benefits does manure management have
Manure can be managed to reduce ammonia emissions thereby improving the nitrogen:phosphorus balance
what is an example of a value-added industry
Using livestock to turn renewable resources from rangelands, wastelands, pasture, crop residues, and agro-industrial by-products into higher quality protein sources such as meat, eggs and milk, and other products derived from the carcass
how can the integration of crop and livestock systems be beneficial
it can benefit the environment by using by-products from one part of the system as inputs into other parts of the system
how can rotating crops with forage legumes be beneficial for soil
rotating crops with forage legumes is beneficial for the soil because the legumes replenish soil nutrients and forage production and grazing reduce soil erosion
what does the co-habitation and co-production of crops and livestock do
Co-habitation and co-production of crops and livestock provide a natural approach to sustainable and environmentally sound agricultural practices
