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Jebari A, Pereyra-Goday F, Kumar A, Collins AL, Rivero MJ, McAuliffe GA. Feasibility of mitigation measures for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. A systematic review. AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2023; 44:2. [PMID: 38161803 PMCID: PMC10754757 DOI: 10.1007/s13593-023-00938-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The UK Government has set an ambitious target of achieving a national "net-zero" greenhouse gas economy by 2050. Agriculture is arguably placed at the heart of achieving net zero, as it plays a unique role as both a producer of GHG emissions and a sector that has the capacity via land use to capture carbon (C) when managed appropriately, thus reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Agriculture's importance, particularly in a UK-specific perspective, which is also applicable to many other temperate climate nations globally, is that the majority of land use nationwide is allocated to farming. Here, we present a systematic review based on peer-reviewed literature and relevant "grey" reports to address the question "how can the agricultural sector in the UK reduce, or offset, its direct agricultural emissions at the farm level?" We considered the implications of mitigation measures in terms of food security and import reliance, energy, environmental degradation, and value for money. We identified 52 relevant studies covering major foods produced and consumed in the UK. Our findings indicate that many mitigation measures can indeed contribute to net zero through GHG emissions reduction, offsetting, and bioenergy production, pending their uptake by farmers. While the environmental impacts of mitigation measures were covered well within the reviewed literature, corresponding implications regarding energy, food security, and farmer attitudes towards adoption received scant attention. We also provide an open-access, informative, and comprehensive dataset for agri-environment stakeholders and policymakers to identify the most promising mitigation measures. This research is of critical value to researchers, land managers, and policymakers as an interim guideline resource while more quantitative evidence becomes available through the ongoing lab-, field-, and farm-scale trials which will improve the reliability of agricultural sustainability modelling in the future. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13593-023-00938-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Jebari
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB Devon UK
| | - Fabiana Pereyra-Goday
- Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria (INIA), Ruta 8 km 281, Treinta y Tres, postcode 33000 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Atul Kumar
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB Devon UK
| | - Adrian L. Collins
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB Devon UK
| | - M. Jordana Rivero
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB Devon UK
| | - Graham A. McAuliffe
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB Devon UK
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Palangi V, Lackner M. Management of Enteric Methane Emissions in Ruminants Using Feed Additives: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243452. [PMID: 36552373 PMCID: PMC9774182 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In ruminants' metabolism, a surplus of hydrogen is removed from the reduction reaction of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) by the formation of methane by methanogenic bacteria and archaea methanogens. The balance of calculations between VFA (volatile fatty acids), CO2, and CH4 indicates that acetate and butyrate play a role in methane production, while the formation of propionate maintains hydrogen and therefore reduces methane production. CH4 formation in ruminant livestock is not desired because it reduces feed efficiency and contributes to global warming. Therefore, numerous strategies have been investigated to mitigate methane production in ruminants. This review focuses on feed additives which have the capability of reducing methane emissions in ruminants. Due to the environmental importance of methane emissions, such studies are needed to make milk and meat production more sustainable. Additionally, the additives which have no adverse effects on rumen microbial population and where the reduction effects are a result of their hydrogen sink property, are the best reduction methods. Methane inhibitors have shown such a property in most cases. More work is needed to bring methane-reducing agents in ruminant diets to full market maturity, so that farmers can reap feed cost savings and simultaneously achieve environmental benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valiollah Palangi
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Faculty, Ataturk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Maximilian Lackner
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Hoechstaedtplatz 6, 1200 Vienna, Austria
- Circe Biotechnologie GmbH, Kerpengasse 125, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (M.L.)
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Calluna vulgaris as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11151993. [PMID: 35956470 PMCID: PMC9370339 DOI: 10.3390/plants11151993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Calluna vulgaris, belonging to the Ericaceae family, is an invasive plant that has widely spread from Europe all across Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Being able to survive in rigid soil and environmental conditions, it is nowadays considered to be of high nature-conservation value. Known for its nutritional and medicinal properties, C. vulgaris stands out for its varied physiochemical composition, spotlighting a wide range of biological activity. Among the most important bioactive compounds identified in C. vulgaris, the phenolic components found in different parts of this herbaceous plant are the main source of its diverse pro-health properties (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, chemoprotective, etc.). Nonetheless, this plant exhibits an excellent nectariferous potential for social insects such as honeybees; therefore, comparing the bioactive compounds observed in the plant and in the final product of the beehive, namely honey, will help us understand and find new insights into the health benefits provided by the consumption of C. vulgaris-related products. Thus, the main interest of this work is to review the nutritional profile, chemical composition and biological activities of the C. vulgaris plant and its related honey in order to encourage the future exploration and use of this health-promoting plant in novel foods, pharmacological products and apitherapy.
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Pérez-Barbería FJ, Arroyo-González I, García AJ, Serrano MP, Gallego L, Landete-Castillejos T. Water sprinkling as a tool for heat abatement in farmed Iberian red deer: Effects on calf growth and behaviour. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249540. [PMID: 33886602 PMCID: PMC8062043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Climatic models predict scenarios in which ambient temperature will continue increasing worldwide. Under these climatic conditions, fitness and animal welfare of many populations are expected to suffer, especially those that live in captive or semi-natural conditions, where opportunities of heat abatement are limited. We undertook an experimental design to assess the effect of heat abatement that water sprinkling might have on Iberian red deer calf growth and behaviour from birth to weaning (135 days). One group of ten mother-calf pairs lived on plots with water sprinkling (treatment) available during summer’s hottest time of the day, while the control group (nine mother-calf pairs) occupied plots with no available water sprinkling. Treatment and control groups were fed ad libitum and swapped between plots every seven days to minimise any plot effect. Body weight was monitored weekly and individual behaviour was recorded once or twice a week at mid-day. We observed that calves had showers under the sprinklers and wallowed in mud puddles. The results clearly indicated that calves of the treatment group showed a significant increase in body weight at weaning in comparison with the control group, with no differences between sexes (treatment: male = 56.5 kg, female = 50.3 kg; control: male = 50.3 kg, female = 46.5 kg). Mother weight and mother age effects were negligible on calf body weight at weaning. The heavier the mother the faster was the rate of growth of its offspring, irrespective of calf sex. The model indicated that although males grew significantly slower than female calves in the control group, males grew faster than females when exposed to the treatment. Calves of the treatment group spent less time drinking, less time in the shade, similar time eating and more time in motion than calves of the control group. There were no behavioural differences between calf sexes of treatment and control groups. The results indicate the importance of providing animals with opportunities of heat abatement in hot environments to improve animal growth and welfare in farmed Iberian red deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. J. Pérez-Barbería
- Department of Agroforestry Science and Technology and Genetics, Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - I. Arroyo-González
- Department of Agroforestry Science and Technology and Genetics, Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - A. J. García
- Department of Agroforestry Science and Technology and Genetics, Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - M. P. Serrano
- Department of Agroforestry Science and Technology and Genetics, Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - L. Gallego
- Department of Agroforestry Science and Technology and Genetics, Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - T. Landete-Castillejos
- Department of Agroforestry Science and Technology and Genetics, Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
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Zhao Y, Nan X, Yang L, Zheng S, Jiang L, Xiong B. A Review of Enteric Methane Emission Measurement Techniques in Ruminants. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10061004. [PMID: 32521767 PMCID: PMC7341254 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify relationships between animal, dietary and management factors and the resulting methane (CH4) emissions, and to identify potential mitigation strategies for CH4 production, it is vital to develop reliable and accurate CH4 measurement techniques. This review outlines various methods for measuring enteric CH4 emissions from ruminants such as respiration chambers (RC), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer, GreenFeed, sniffer method, ventilated hood, facemask, laser CH4 detector and portable accumulation chamber. The advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are discussed. In general, RC, SF6 and ventilated hood are capable of 24 h continuous measurements for each individual animal, providing accurate reference methods used for research and inventory purposes. However, they require high labor input, animal training and are time consuming. In contrast, short-term measurement techniques (i.e., GreenFeed, sniffer method, facemask, laser CH4 detector and portable accumulation chamber) contain additional variations in timing and frequency of measurements obtained relative to the 24 h feeding cycle. However, they are suitable for large-scale measurements under commercial conditions due to their simplicity and high throughput. Successful use of these techniques relies on optimal matching between the objectives of the studies and the mechanism of each method with consideration of animal behavior and welfare. This review can provide useful information in selecting suitable techniques for CH4 emission measurement in ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiguang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Xuemei Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Liang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Shanshan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
| | - Linshu Jiang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (B.X.); Tel.: +86-10-8079-8101 (L.J.); +86-10-6281-1680 (B.X.)
| | - Benhai Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (Y.Z.); (X.N.); (L.Y.); (S.Z.)
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (B.X.); Tel.: +86-10-8079-8101 (L.J.); +86-10-6281-1680 (B.X.)
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Pérez-Barbería FJ, García AJ, Cappelli J, Landete-Castillejos T, Serrano MP, Gallego L. Heat stress reduces growth rate of red deer calf: Climate warming implications. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233809. [PMID: 32480402 PMCID: PMC7263848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate models agree in predicting scenarios of global warming. In endothermic species heat stress takes place when they are upper their thermal neutral zone. Any physiological or behavioural mechanism to mitigate heat stress is at the cost of diverting energy from other physiological functions, with negative repercussions for individual fitness. Tolerance to heat stress differs between species, age classes and sexes, those with the highest metabolic rates being the most sensitive to stressing thermal environments. This is especially important during the first months of life, when most growth takes place. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is supposedly well adapted to a wide range of thermal environments, based on its worldwide distribution range, but little is known about the direct effect that heat stress may have on calf growth. We assessed the effect that heat stress, measured by heat stress indices and physical environment variables (air temperature, relative air humidity, wind speed and solar radiation), have on calf and mother body weights from calf´s birth to weaning. We used 9265 longitudinal weekly body weight records of calf and mother across 19 years in captive Iberian red deer. We hypothesised that (i) heat stress in hot environments has a negative effect on calf growth, especially in males, as they are more energetically demanding to produce than females; and that (ii) the body weight of the mother through lactation should be negatively affected by heat stress. Our results supported hypothesis (i) but not so clearly hypothesis (ii). By weaning (day 143) calves growing under low heat stress environment grew up to 1.2 kg heavier than those growing in high heat stress environment, and males were more affected by heat stress than females. The results have implications in animal welfare, geographical clines in body size and adaptation to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. J. Pérez-Barbería
- Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - A. J. García
- Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - J. Cappelli
- Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - T. Landete-Castillejos
- Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - M. P. Serrano
- Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
| | - L. Gallego
- Game and Livestock Resources Unit, University of Castilla-La Mancha, IDR, IREC, Albacete, Spain
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