Modelling global methane emissions from livestock: Biological and nutritional controls. Final Report, 1 July 1989-30 June 1992
The available observations of methane production from the literature have been compiled into a ruminant methane data base. This data base includes 400 treatment mean observations of methane losses from cattle and sheep, and minor numbers of measurements from other species. Methane loss varied from 2.0 to 11.6 percent of dietary gross energy. Measurements included describe the many different weights and physiological states of the animals fed and diets ranging from all forage to all concentrate diets or mixtures. An auxiliary spreadsheet lists approximately 1000 individual animal observations. Many important concepts have emerged from our query and analysis of this data set. The majority of the world's cattle, sheep, and goats under normal husbandry circumstances likely produce methane very close to 6 percent of their daily diets gross energy (2 percent of the diet by weight). Although individual animals or losses from specific dietary research circumstances can vary considerably, the average for the vast majority of groups of ruminant livestock are likely to fall between 5.5 to 6.5 percent. We must caution, however, that little experimental data is available for two-thirds of the world's ruminants in developing countries. Available evidence suggests similar percentage of emissions, but this supposition needs confirmation. More importantly, data is skimpy or unavailable to describe diet consumption, animal weight, and class distribution.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6755333
- Report Number(s):
- N-93-15480; NASA-CR-191354; NAS-1.26:191354; CNN: NAGW-1829
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
METHANE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RUMINANTS
EMISSION
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
CATTLE
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIET
ENERGY
FORAGE
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GOATS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
LOSSES
MIXTURES
NUTRIENTS
NUTRITION
POLLUTION CONTROL
PRODUCTION
SHEEP
WEIGHT
ALKANES
ANIMAL FEEDS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
CONTROL
DISPERSIONS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
FOOD
HYDROCARBONS
MAMMALS
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
VERTEBRATES
540110*
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)