The contribution of livestock production to climate change: A review

F. O. Sarkwa, E. C. Timpong-Jones, N. Assuming-Bediako, S. Aikins, T. Adogla-Bessa

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Discussions on climate change and the livestock industry are skewed toward the effects on livestock rather than how livestock contribute to it. This review highlights how the activities of the livestock industry impacts on climate change. Methane forms about 44 % of livestock emissions. The rest is shared between Carbon dioxide (27%) and Nitrous oxide (29%). Cattle emit the highest, about 65 % of the livestock production emissions. With respect to activities, feed processing and production and enteric fermentation from ruminants are the two major sources of emissions, contributing 45 % and 39 % of total emissions respectively. Manure storage and processing forms 10 % and the rest is attributed to transportation and animal processing. On product-basis, milk from cows and beef are responsible for the most emissions, contributing 20 % and 41 % of the sector’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) outputs respectively. Storage of manure and supply of feed forms the bulk of emissions in pig production while supply of feed form the bulk in poultry. It is concluded that the livestock industry be given a bit more consideration in the efforts to minimize the effects of anthropogenic activities on GHG emissions.

Original languageEnglish
JournalLivestock Research for Rural Development
Volume28
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2016

Keywords

  • Enteric fermentation
  • Greenhouse gas
  • Methane
  • Mitigation
  • Ruminants

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