Greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions, land and water use associated with feedlot cattle (n = 40 hd treatment−1 trial−1) treated with or without productivity-enhancing technologies were modelled for a multiyear study (n = 4). Heifers (H) were assigned to the following treatments: (1) implanted (HTBA); (2) provided with melengestrol acetate (HMGA); (3) nonimplanted control, weight-adjusted (CON_Adj) to achieve the same final carcass weight (CW) as 1 (HCON_AdjTBA); or (4) CON_Adj to achieve the CW as 2 (HCON_AdjMGA). Steers (S) were assigned as follows: (1) implanted (STBA); (2) implanted and provided with ractopamine hydrochloride (SRAC; conducted in the last 2 years); (3) CON_Adj to achieve the same CW as 1 (SCON_AdjTBA); or (4) CON_Adj to achieve the same CW as 2 (SCON_AdjRAC). The GHG and NH3 emissions from HTBA, HMGA, STBA, and SRAC were 3.8%, 3.0%, 10.1%, and 8.5% lower and 4.3%, 2.9%, 7.4%, and 7.6% lower, respectively, than the respective control cattle. The land required to produce feed was also reduced by 6.6%, 4.8%, 9.9%, and 10.9%, while water use was reduced by 6.4%, 4.8%, 10.1%, and 11.1% for HTBA, HMGA, STBA, and SRAC, respectively. This modelling study clearly demonstrates that conventional beef production systems have a lower environmental footprint than nonconventional systems.
How to translate text using browser tools
24 April 2023
Modelling environmental impacts associated with the removal of productivity-enhancing technologies from Canadian feedlots: a case study
Emily Boonstra,
Isaac A. Aboagye,
Tim A. McAllister,
Getahun Legesse,
Genet F. Mengistu,
Deanne L. Fulawka,
Marcos R.C. Cordeiro,
Gabriel O. Ribeiro,
Emma McGeough,
Kim H. Ominski
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
ammonia emissions
cattle
greenhouse gas emissions
land use
productivity-enhancing technologies
water use