Animal Husbandry Practices and Manure Management for Cost-effective Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Dairy Farms in India

Author: Periyasamy Vijayakumar, A. Singaravadivelan, D. Senthilkumar, R. Nithiaselvi, D. Santhi and K. Shibi Thomas

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Abstract

Livestock is the main driver for sustainable development in the Indian agriculture system. Livestock contributes both directly and indirectly to climate change through the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Through the adaption of best mitigation practices, this livestock sector can reduce its environmental impacts and become more efficient in the use of resources. Hence, this study was planned in order to assess the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission level in the organized dairy farm with the proposed interventions like improvement in animal reproductive performance, animal health, and manure management. The total GHGs emission in baseline production and the proposed interventions package were 735379 kgCO2-eq/year and 525231 kgCO2-eq/year respectively. With the proposed interventions package, a reduction of 40.59% in total CH4 was observed from the baseline production system. Through the adoption of the manure management system, there was a reduction of 87.42% CH4 emission and a reduction of 16.97% N2O emission was observed. Further, there is a reduction of 29.84% in GHG emissions linked to milk production observed in comparison with baseline production. Based on the findings of this study, if there is an improvement in animal reproductive performance, animal health and manure management showed a 28.58% reduction in total GHG emission annually. Hence, if the proposed interventions were to be implemented in the organized dairy cattle farming system, the GHG emission could potentially be mitigated.

Keywords

Climate change mitigation; greenhouse gases; crossbred Jersey cattle; Indian dairy farming

Conclusion

This study assessed the GHG emission level in the organized dairy farming system with the baseline data and with the proposed interventions like improvement in animal reproductive performance, animal health, and manure management in Indian conditions. The most important GHG emission source was enteric fermentation followed by CO2 emissions from feed production. With the proposed interventions package, there is a reduction of 28.58% of total GHG emissions annually. Hence, the Indian dairy cattle farming system should address the intervention areas related to animal reproductive performance, animal health, and manure management in order to sustain the livestock production system in the changing climate scenario.

References

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How to cite this article

Periyasamy Vijayakumar, A. Singaravadivelan, D. Senthilkumar, R. Nithiaselvi, D. Santhi and K. Shibi Thomas (2022). Animal Husbandry Practices and Manure Management for Cost-effective Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Dairy Farms in India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4): 618-622.