GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM CALF- AND YEARLING-FED BEEF
Oct 03, 2012
SIMPLE SUMMARY:
A spring calving herd (~350 beef cows) over two production cycles was used to compare the whole-farm GHG emissions among calf-fed vs. yearling-fed production systems with and without growth implants. Farm GHG emissions initially included enteric CH4, manure CH4 and N2O, cropping N2O, and energy use CO2. The carbon footprint ranged from 19.9–22.5 kg CO2e per kg carcass weight. Including soil organic carbon loss from annual cropping and carbon sequestration from perennial pastures and haylands further reduced the carbon footprint by 11–16%. The carbon footprint of beef was reduced by growth promotants (4.9–5.1%) and by calf-fed beef production (6.3–7.5%).
DATE
Oct 4, 2012
LOCATION
Animals 2012, 2
CONTACT
John Basarab
WEBSITE
dx.doi.org/ 10.3168/jds.2011-4606