Estimation of the Carbon Footprint in Dairy Sheep Farm

Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science

دوره 10، شماره 4، اسفند 2020، صفحه 639-645   

نویسندگان

A. Ceyhan^{* 1}؛ E. Akyol¹؛ A. Ünalan²؛ S. Çınar³؛ W. Ali³

¹Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technologies, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey

²Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey

³Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Science, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey

چکیده

By 2050, the earth’s population is expected to be more than 9 billion. The need for secure food and water supply will force agriculture to increase production. The major greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the livestock sector are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) throughout the production process. These gases are the key contributor to an increasing earth’s surface temperature. Global warming occurs as a result of gases emitted by humans into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect. The livestock sector contributes between 25 and 40% of anthropogenic methane emissions. Human-derived animal production contributes to global warming by producing 9% of CO₂ emissions, 35-40% of CH_4, and 65% of N₂O gas emissions. Carbon footprint is a measure of the damage that human activities cause to the environment in terms of the amount of GHGs produced as a unit of CO₂. The most common method used in carbon footprint calculations is the Tier 1-2-3 approach developed by the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC). In this study, the carbon footprint of a dairy sheep farm in Niğde province was calculated using Tier 1 method to determine global warming potential. The carbon footprint of this farm from both sources like N₂0 and CH₄ was 85535.2 CO₂eq year-¹. The estimation of GHGs is very obligatory to evaluate global warming stress and avoidance from some fatal diseases.

کلیدواژه‌ها

carbon footprint؛ dairy sheep؛ greenhouse gas؛ sustainability

اصل مقاله

INTRODUCTION

In this era, the ecosystem is transmuted by global warming with threatening the life of the present and future population and its economics. The climate change rate is more rapid than in some previous decades. The international panel of climate change (IPCC) forecasted that in the coming 10 decades, the global temperature will rise to 1.8-4.0 ˚C (Marino et al. 2016). Globally this climate change causes a devastating effect on human beings and animals by promoting the germs of dangerous diseases. By 2050, the population of earth planet is estimated at more than 9 billion with a massive claim of the food supply. The production of sufficient food to gratify the need of the population also associate with climate change and nature preservation (Ibidhi et al. 2017). The livestock sector contributes to a major part of the agricultural food supply with a significant change in climate by anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission in nature. Globally 18% portion of GHGs emissions is directly or indirectly related to the livestock sector (Herrero et al. 2013). Enteric fermentation and manure production of a ruminant is greatly responsible for the emission of GHGs up to 80% (Havlík et al. 2014) depending on species, production purpose, soil type, landscape, climate, and altitude (Hadjigeorgiou et al. 2005). The livestock plays a vital role in ecosystem change as the emission of CO₂ is at the rate of 7.1 GT / year (Gerber et al. 2013a; Gerber et al. 2013b). The emission of GHGs methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) is directly associated with both enteric fermentation and manure management while nitrous oxide depends only on manure management (Gerber et al. 2013a). Small ruminants donate 55% GHGs by enteric fermentation and 35% by feed production with a very minute amount by manure (Gerber et al. 2013b). The Carbon footprint (CF) is a measure of the damage that human activities cause to the environment in terms of the amount of GHGs CH₄, CO_2, and N₂O associated with off-farm and on-farm level. In this context, CF provides information on GHGs emissions as expressed CO₂ equation and evaluate the products with environmental loads and bio-physical policies of trades (Galli, 2015). CF delivers viable labeling for consumer buying decisions and most importantly provides awareness against the influence of food production in GHGs emissions in nature (Röös et al. 2011). Media discussion and populace acknowledgment about livestock production and its impact on climate change promote the reduction and mitigation of GHGs through CF assessment (Luo et al. 2015). The CF is stated in kg of CO₂ equation per unit of product in livestock of indoor animal production systems (e.g. poultry farms), whereas in grazing farming systems, the impact of soil carbon (C) sequestration from soil C inputs is substantial to climate change (Gutiérrez-Peña et al. 2019). Soil carbon can be affected by different crop variety and management. For example, negative net balance carbon as CO₂ loss gives a positive effect on the emission of N₂O (Batalla et al. 2015). It means soil carbon sequestration in grassland pastures can be seen as a mitigating option for extensive ruminant systems (Soussana et al. 2010). The carbon of nature related to the animal directly concerns the two producing engines of CH₄ from enteric fermentation and manure management of livestock while N₂O of livestock production has a strong concern with manure management. The ruminal activity of digestion is a basic factor to secrete a high amount of CH₄ in livestock but manure is sharing the very little amount of CH₄ in nature. However, estimates of small ruminant GHGs emissions are often centered on diverse approaches and not easy to attain in practice due to a deficiency of data, especially for the dairy sector. The IPCC gives 3 types of method analysis called Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 although the selection of the Tier method depends on information and the aspect of the reflected system. Estimations related to big ranges are generally gathered by the application of Tier 1 and Tier 2, whereas Tier 3 is habitually functional in constrained areas (Marino et al. 2016). In this study, the carbon footprint of Awassi sheep farm in Niğde region was calculated using Tier 1 method to determine global warming potential. This is typically a dairy sheep farm with a population of 2000 heads adult sheep and 2340 heads growing lambs of 6 months ages.

 

Process of GHGs formation in ruminant management system

The breakdown of carbohydrates during the digestion of feed in ruminants (sheep, goat, buffalo, camel, and cattle) produces CH₄ and CO₂ gases as a by-product resulted from the action of micro-organisms in the digestive tract (Patra, 2012). The quantity of GHGs emissions depends on the animal age, animal size, feed type, and kind of digestive tract. The ruminant livestock produces more CH₄ and CO₂ as compared to non-ruminant because they have four compartments digestive tract (except camels) with maximum fermentation of feed (Patra and Saxena, 2009). The feed is always required according to the need of animals so its quantity and quality both have significant prominence in GHGs emissions of sheep farming. The manure is a very immense source of N₂O emission at the dairy farms but it also produces an amount of CH₄ and CO₂ at a small scale (Tauseef et al. 2013). The manure is composed of both solid dung and liquid urine collectively. Basic GHGs production in the form of CH₄ is related to the decaying of manure, storage, and treatment of manure at the farm level (Aluwong et al. 2011). This study is grounded on a congested dairy farm of sheep with a dry solid manure management system. The quantity of manure production per animal, herd size, the system of manure management, emission factor and temperature are very significant features to estimate the accurate value of methane gas from manure (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2006). In manure (dung and urine) management, N₂O emission happens in direct and indirect ways collectively as it prerequisites distinct consideration for the calculation of its amount before the use of manure as for feed, fuel and another beneficial purpose like storage and treatment. As for indirect N₂O emission of manure management, some factors are very essential like the presence of nitrates, low PH and aerobic situations for oxidized form of nitrogen while indirect emission occurs in the form of ammonia and NO (volatile nitrogen). In the process of N₂O emission, two progressions like nitrification (ammonia nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen) and denitrification (nitrate to N₂O formation) are very obligatory with aerobic and anaerobic environments respectively (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2006).

 

Role of sheep in GHGs emissions

Globally the domestic ruminant population has 56% portion of small ruminants with 1178 million population of sheep, which is expected to increase by 60% in 2050 (Faostat, 2013).

 

Figure 1 The complete life cycle of sheep production with the emission of GHGs (Marino et al. 2016)

 

 

In 2013, small ruminants especially sheep and goats produced 13 million tons of meat and 28 million tons of milk. Internationally, sheep production is sundry and multi-purpose animal generating meat, milk, skins and wool, although meat production is their primary function (Zygoyiannis, 2006). Sheep farms are primarily situated on hill or high country lands with the use of stumpy inputs and all-year grazing of perennial grasslands. In Turkey, the small ruminant especially sheep and goats are reared for meat, milk, mohair, and wool, sharing their quota of GHGs emissions in the atmosphere. Görgülü et al. (2009) quantified that Turkey is a very famous sheep-rearing country as it has a 30.2 billion sheep population, producing almost 203.800-ton enteric fermentation gases and 6.114-ton manure management gases. Based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2006) guidelines and regulations, the livestock of Turkey produced 1.38 million tonnes of methane and 15.30 thousand tonnes N₂O within the year 2015 (Ersoy, 2017). In the region of Niğde, the environmental and grassy zone is pretty suitable for the rearing of sheep on a highly commercial level. Ersoy (2017) identified that the CF of N₂O in the livestock of the Niğde region is 53465 ton CO₂ eq year-¹ as in this region livestock releases 148 ton N₂O year^-1 in the form of direct N₂O while 24 ton N₂O year-¹ in the form of indirect N₂O. According to the observation of Ersoy (2017) under the guidelines of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2006), the livestock sector of Niğde region shares an amount of 336.11 × 10³ ton CO₂eq year-¹ as methane CF, which consists of 15.72 × 10³ ton CH₄ year-¹ from enteric fermentation and 0.29 × 10³ ton CH₄ year-¹ from manure management. The value of the CF for greenhouse gases depends on the management system as the grazing system has a different value and measurement parameters as compared to the on-farm feeding system.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was carried out at the dairy sheep farm of Niğde province. Niğde is ecologically located at the very best section of Turkey with 37.97 latitudes, 34.68 longitudes, and at the altitude of 1243 meters above sea level. This is a God-gifted place of Turkey with a diversity of climate, hilly extents, agriculture, and plenty of forages. So, in this region, sheep farming is a very propagative occupation to secure the lack of food and upsurge local and national economies. The methane gas production from sheep enteric fermentation and manure is as well as to be reckoned but N₂O emission is only related to manure management. The CO₂ is not to be considered as a giant concern because it is equalized by CO₂ of plant photosynthesis in the atmosphere (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2006). This study is carried out with an on-farm boundary which includes all production aspects of sheep farming. All the data were obtained from a dairy farm of sheep located in Niğde province and 2000 heads Awassi sheep and their 2340 heads lambs were used. The Awassi sheep of this farm has an average of 65 kg live weight and lambs have 40 kg live weight at 6 months of age. The Awassi sheep originates from Syria, Lebanon and some other Arabic countries nonetheless now it is also reared in turkey under the name of Arab and Ivesi sheep. It is typically a dairy breed with an average live weight ranging from 50-70 kg. This sheep has a wide-body size with white body wool, brownish neck, and legs wool (Yalcin, 1986). This farm has an intensive feeding system for animals with an automatic milking parlor as it is more reliable on concentrate and forage feeding (corn silage, alfalfa, wheat straw, etc.) in the form of a mixture. At the farm, the rudimentary excretion of manure is in both solid and liquid forms (dung and urine) nevertheless its complete storage is managed in dry solid form. The carbon footprint values were calculated by using the Tier 1 method developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2006). As it is known, the net emissions of greenhouse gases in a production unit are called carbon footprint (CF).

 

Equations

Methane emission from enteric fermentation:

 

Methane emission from manure management:

Where:

Emissions: methane productions per year.

EF_T: emission factor (kg CH₄ head-¹ yr-¹).

N_(T): number of animals.

T: species of animal.

 

Direct nitrogen emission from manure management:

Where:

N₂O _D (mm): emissions of direct nitrogen oxide in kg N₂O per year from manure.

N_(T): number of animals.

N_ex(T): yearly average N emission per animal in kg N per animal peryear.

MS_(T,S): fraction of total yearly nitrogen secretion for the specific type of animal.

EF_3(S): nitrogen oxide emission factor for manure managing system.

S: type of system.

T: types of animal.

44/28: change of (N₂O-N) (mm) secretions to N₂O (mm) secretions.

Indirect N₂O estimation is caused by the volatilization process.

N₂O_G(mm)= (N_{volatilization-MMS}×EF₄) × 44 / 28  (2.3.4)

N₂O_G(mm): emissions of indirect nitrogen oxide in kg N₂O per year from dung volatilization of N.

EF₄: emission factor with default value is 0.01.

 

Calculations

In this study, it was calculated greenhouse gas emissions for 2000 sheep and 2340 sheep lambs of an Awassi dairy sheep farm located in Nigde. All the calculation takes place with Tier 1 method and according to the Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2006).

 

Calculation of methane emission from enteric fermentation by equation 2.3.1

EF_T= 8 kg CH₄ per head year^-1 for the Tier 1 method (sheep)

 

 

Calculation of methane emission from manure management by equation 2.3.2

 

Calculation of direct N₂O emission from manure management by equation 2.3.3

 

Annual N excretion rate;

TAM_(T): typical animal mass in kg per animal.

TAM: 65 kg for sheep and default factor is 0.90 kg N (1000 kg annual mass^-1) year^-1.

TAM: 40 kg for lams and default factor is 1.17 kg N (1000 kg annual mass^-1) year^-1.

N_ex(T)= 0.90 × 0.065 × 365= 21. 35 (sheep)

N_ex(T)= 1.17 × 0.04 × 365= 17. 08 (lambs)

By using the value of N_ex(T).

 

Result= 125611.2 kg N2O yr^-1 (lambs)

Total result= 259811.2 kg N₂O yr^-1

 

Calculation of Indirect N₂O of manure management by equation 2.3.4

N₂O_G(mm)= (N_{volatilization-MMS}×EF₄) × 44 / 28

N_{volatilization-MMS}= 479606.4 (lambs)

By using the N_{VOL_MMS} and default factor (EF₄) value 0.010

N₂O_G(mm)= (N_{volatilization-MMS}×EF₄) × 44 / 28

N₂O_G(mm)= (512400×0.010) × 44 / 28

N₂O_G(mm)=8052 kg N₂O yr^-1 (sheep)

N₂O_G(mm)= (479606.4×0.010) × 44/28

N₂O_G(mm)= 7536.6 kg N₂O yr^-1 (lambs)

Total= 15588.6 kg N₂O yr^-1

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This study was held at a dairy sheep farm in Nigde region in Turkey and all these calculations for estimation of GHGs are taken under the guidelines and rules of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2006) (Table 1). In the view of this study results, the GHGs emission from a dairy sheep farm of Nigde province has a noticeable value of 85535.2 CO₂eq year-¹ as a CF and these gases are a direct source to denature the ozone layer and alternate the atmosphere temperature. The CF value of this farm is not much higher as compared to the CF value of the Nigde region’s livestock which is 53465 ton CO₂ equation year-¹ and 336.11 × 10³ ton CO₂ equation year-¹ for N₂O and CH₄ respectively. Görgülü et al. (2009) and Ersoy (2017) had been estimated GHGs emissions of this region and their findings were very high as compared to this study. According to scientific studies and some author’s point of view, the main font of GHGs emission is cattle farming as compared to goat and sheep farming (Robertson et al. 2015). So the emission of GHGs from dairy sheep in this specific area of study is very miner and less destructive. There are very limited studies available for the estimation of greenhouse gases emission from sheep dairy farms. The results of different studies can be different due to data, production differences, and variations in methodologies of every study. This study was very indispensable to estimate the greenhouse emission from the sheep farm of Nigde region as it is the most prominent profession of this region. Bernués Jal et al. (2017) identified that evaluation between different studies is very challenging as every study has its standards and boundaries of the system with special data.

 

Table 1 The carbon footprint of Awassi sheep dairy farm

 

* It was used the coefficient of 21 in the conversion of methane from enteric and manure for total CO₂ equation calculation.

** It was used the coefficient of 310 in the conversion of direct and indirect N₂O₂ for total CO₂ equation calculation.

 

This study was proposed on on-farm boundaries and mix ration feeding with a dry solid dung management system while Ersoy (2017) and Görgülü et al. (2009) had done their studies under all management systems. So new incipient authors can take an idea about the system of boundaries, rules, methods, and new technologies of estimating GHGs. The value of the result can be different for different authors depending on the base of the Tier method and correlated data.

 

CONCLUSION

GHGs emission of this dairy sheep farm was 85535.2 CO₂ equation year-¹ that was not a big source of GHGs but the mitigation of GHGs is very obligatory even at this low gas-emitting farm to secure the nature and atmospheric temperature. It is known that the growing population demands much agricultural food nevertheless it should also be used as a proper management system for minimum emission of GHGs for living a healthy life. The normal temperature and microbial load are to be growing higher with these GHGs emissions as it is dangerous for human health. The basic tenacity of this study was to alert about the emission of GHGs from sheep farming and denote the share of a single sheep farm in total GHGs emissions to make governments ready to adapt each step to diminish their emission by developing a sound management system. So the basic purpose of this study was to estimate the GHGs of a specific dairy sheep farm and provide an alert of researchers to find novel ways to control its emissions and prevent the disturbance in the natural ecosystem.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors thank the iSAGE project supported by the European Union for funding this study and authors would like to thank MEMUTA sheep farmer and his staff for each assistance.

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