Improved region-specific emission factors for enteric methane emissions from cattle in smallholder mixed crop: livestock systems of Nandi County, Kenya
P. W. Ndung’u A B , B. O. Bebe B , J. O. Ondiek B , K. Butterbach-Bahl A C , L. Merbold A and J. P. Goopy A D EA Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
B Department of Animal Science, Egerton University, Njoro campus, PO Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya.
C Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Garmisch Partenkirchen, 82467, Germany.
D Department Agriculture and Food, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Vic. 3052, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: j.goopy@cgiar.org
Animal Production Science 59(6) 1136-1146 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN17809
Submitted: 13 November 2017 Accepted: 2 May 2018 Published: 1 August 2018
Journal compilation © CSIRO 2019 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
National greenhouse-gas (GHG) inventories in most developing countries, and in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in particular, use default (Tier I) GHG emission factors (EFs) provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to estimate enteric methane (CH4) emissions from livestock. Because these EFs are based on data primarily from developed countries, there is a high degree of uncertainty associated with CH4 emission estimates from African livestock systems. Accurate Tier II GHG emission reporting from developing countries becomes particularly important following the Paris Climate agreement made at COP21, which encourages countries to mitigate GHG emissions from agricultural sources. In light of this, the present study provides improved enteric CH4 emission estimates for cattle in Nandi County, Western Kenya, representing a common livestock production system found in East Africa. Using the data from measurements of liveweight and liveweight change, milk production and locomotion collected from 1143 cattle in 127 households across 36 villages over three major agro-ecological zones covering a full year, we estimated total metabolic energy requirements. From this and assessments of digestibility from seasonally available feeds, we estimated feed intake and used this to calculate daily CH4 production by season, and, subsequently, created new EFs. Mean EFs were 50.6, 45.5, 28.5, 33.2 and 29.0 kg CH4/head.year for females (>2 years), males (>2 years), heifers (1–2 years), young males (1–2 years) and calves (<1 year) respectively, and were lower than the IPCC Tier I estimates for unspecified African adult cattle, but higher for calves and young males. Thus, using IPCC Tier 1 EFs may overestimate current enteric CH4 emissions in some African livestock systems.
Additional keywords: Africa, cattle, dry matter digestibility, feed basket, greenhouse gas, liveweight.
References
Bebe BO (2003) Herd dynamics of dairy smallholder in Kenya highlands. PhD Thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.Bector BS, Sharma N (1980) Estimation of solid-not-fat in milk using specific gravity lactometers. Indian Dairyman 33, 249–253.
Blignaut JN, Chitiga-Mabugu M, Mabugu R, Mabugu M, Chitiga M (2005) Constructing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory using energy balances: the case of South Africa for 1998. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 16, 21–32.
Charmley E, Williams SRO, Moate PJ, Hegarty RS, Herd RM, Oddy VH, Reyenga P, Staunton KM, Anderson A, Hannah MC (2016) A universal equation to predict methane production of forage-fed cattle in Australia. Animal Production Science 56, 169–180.
| A universal equation to predict methane production of forage-fed cattle in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dong H, Mangino J, McAllister T, Hatfield J, Johnson D, Lassey K, de Lima M, Romanovskaya A (2006) Chapter 10: emissions from livestock and manure management. In ‘IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories, vol. 4: agriculture, forestry, and other land use’. pp. 10.1–10.87. (IPCC: Paris) Available at http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/pdf/4_Volume4/V4_10_Ch10_Livestock. pdf [Verified 13 May 2016].
Du Toit C, Meissner H, Van Niekerk W (2014) Direct methane and nitrous oxide emissions of South African dairy and beef cattle. South African Journal of Animal Science 43, 320–339.
| Direct methane and nitrous oxide emissions of South African dairy and beef cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Edmonson A, Lean L, Weaver T, Webster G (1989) A body condition scoring chart for Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 72, 68–78.
| A body condition scoring chart for Holstein dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gerber P, Vellinga T, Opio C, Steinfeld H (2011) Productivity gains and greenhouse gas emissions intensity in dairy systems. Livestock Science 139, 100–108.
| Productivity gains and greenhouse gas emissions intensity in dairy systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
GoK (2013) Nandi county profile. Available at nandi.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Nandi-County-Profile.doc [Verified 3 November 2016]
Goopy JP, Onyango AA, Dickhoefer U, Butterbach-Bahl K (2018) A new approach for improving emission factors for enteric methane emissions of cattle in smallholder systems of East Africa: results for Nyando, western Kenya. Agricultural Systems 161, 72–80.
| A new approach for improving emission factors for enteric methane emissions of cattle in smallholder systems of East Africa: results for Nyando, western Kenya.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gordon IJ, Illius AW (1994) The functional significance of the browser-grazer dichotomy in African ruminants. Oecologia 98, 167–175.
| The functional significance of the browser-grazer dichotomy in African ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hang BPT, Lam V, Phuong TTB, Preston T (2011) Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): an invasive weed or a potential feed for goats? Livestock Research for Rural Development 23, 152
IPCC (2006) Chapter 10: Emissions from livestock and manure management. In ‘Guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories, Vol. 4: Agriculture, forestry and other land use’. pp. 10.1–10.87. (National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme)
Lee MA, Davis AP, Chagunda MGG, Manning P (2017) Forage quality declines with rising temperatures, with implications for livestock production and methane emissions. Biogeosciences 14, 1403–1417.
| Forage quality declines with rising temperatures, with implications for livestock production and methane emissions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lesosky M, Dumas S, Conradie I, Handel IG, Jennings A, Thumbi S, Toye P, de Clare Bronsvoort BM (2012) A live weight–heart girth relationship for accurate dosing of east African shorthorn zebu cattle. Tropical Animal Health and Production 45, 311–316.
| A live weight–heart girth relationship for accurate dosing of east African shorthorn zebu cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Methu JN, Owen E, Abate AL, Tanner JC (2001) Botanical and nutritional composition of maize stover, intakes and feed selection by dairy cattle. Livestock Production Science 71, 87–96.
| Botanical and nutritional composition of maize stover, intakes and feed selection by dairy cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Molano G, Clark H (2008) The effect of level of intake and forage quality on methane production by sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 219–222.
Muyekho FN, Mose L, Cheruiyot DT (2003) Development and transfer of forage production technologies for smallholder dairying: case studies of participatory evaluation of species and methods of establishment in western Kenya. Tropical Grasslands 37, 251–256.
Oddy V, Robards G, Low S (1983) Prediction of in vivo dry matter digestibility from the fibre and nitrogen content of a feed. In ‘Feed information and animal production: proceedings of the second symposium of the International Network of Feed Information Centres’. (Eds GE Robards, RG Packham) (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau: Farnham Royal, Slough [Buckingham], c1983, UK)
Orodho AB (2006) The role and importance of Napier grass in the smallholder dairy industry in Kenya. Available at http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/newpub/napier/napier_kenya.htm [Verified 15 February 2016].
Radostits O, Bell J (1970) Nutrition of the pre-ruminant dairy calf with special reference to the digestion and absorption of nutrients: a review. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 50, 405–452.
| Nutrition of the pre-ruminant dairy calf with special reference to the digestion and absorption of nutrients: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reed JD, Soller H, Woodward A (1990) Fodder tree and straw diets for sheep: intake, growth, digestibility and the effects of phenolics on nitrogen utilisation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 30, 39–50.
| Fodder tree and straw diets for sheep: intake, growth, digestibility and the effects of phenolics on nitrogen utilisation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson DL, Oddy VH (2016) Benefits of including methane measurements in selection strategies. Journal of Animal Science 94, –3635.
| Benefits of including methane measurements in selection strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spurlock DM, Dekkers JCM, Fernado R, Koltes DA, Wolc A (2012) Genetic parameters for energy balance, feed efficiency and related traits in Holstein cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 95, 5393–5402.
| Genetic parameters for energy balance, feed efficiency and related traits in Holstein cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thornton PK, Herrero M (2010) Potential for reduced methane and carbon dioxide emissions from livestock and pasture management in the tropics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 107, 19667–19672.
| Potential for reduced methane and carbon dioxide emissions from livestock and pasture management in the tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Torell R, Bruce B, Kvasnicka B (1998) ‘Methods of determining age of cattle.’ CL712. (Cattle Producer’s Library, University of Nevada: Reno, NV) Available at https://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ag/other/cl712.pdf [Verified 17 March 2017]
Touchberry RW, Lush JL (1950) The accuracy of linear body measurements of dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 33, 72–80.
| The accuracy of linear body measurements of dairy cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tran MT, Vu TKV, Sommer SG, Jensen LS (2011) Nitrogen turnover and loss during storage of slurry and composting of solid manure under typical Vietnamese farming conditions. The Journal of Agricultural Science 149, 285–296.
| Nitrogen turnover and loss during storage of slurry and composting of solid manure under typical Vietnamese farming conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tubiello FN Salvatore M Rossi S Ferrara A Fitton N Smith P 2013
Tubiello F, Salvatore M, Cóndor Golec R, Ferrara A, Rossi S, Biancalani R, Federici S, Jacobs H, Flammini A (2014) ‘Agriculture, forestry and other land use emissions by sources and removals by sinks.’ (Statistics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization: Rome)
Tyrrell HF, Reid JT (1965) Prediction of the energy value of cow’s milk. Journal of Dairy Science 48, 1215–1223.
| Prediction of the energy value of cow’s milk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Van Man N, Wiktorsson H (2003) Forage yield, nutritive value, feed intake and digestibility of three grass species as affected by harvest frequency. Tropical Grasslands 37, 101–110.
Van Marle-Köster E, Mostert BE, Westhuizen J (2000) Body measurements as selection criteria for growth in South African Hereford cattle. Archiv Tierzucht Dummerstorf 43, 5–15.
van Zijderveld SM, Gerrits WJJ, Dijkstra J, Newbold JR, Hulshof RBA, Perdok HB (2011) Persistency of methane mitigation by dietary nitrate supplementation in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 4028–4038.
| Persistency of methane mitigation by dietary nitrate supplementation in dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waghorn G (2008) Beneficial and detrimental effects of dietary condensed tannins for sustainable sheep and goat production: progress and challenges. Animal Feed Science and Technology 147, 116–139.
| Beneficial and detrimental effects of dietary condensed tannins for sustainable sheep and goat production: progress and challenges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waghorn GC, Clark DA (2004) Feeding value of pastures for ruminants. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 52, 320–331.
| Feeding value of pastures for ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waithaka MM, Nyangaga JN, Staal SJ, Wokabi AW, Njubi D, Muriuki KG, Njoroge LN, Wanjohi PN (2002) Characterization of dairy systems in the western Kenya region. Report of dairy and crop characterisation activities in western Kenya. Smallholder Dairy (Research & Development) Project collaborative research report, Nairobi, Kenya.
