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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
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Abstract

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.

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, and Kim H. Ominski "Modelling environmental impacts associated with the removal of productivity-enhancing technologies from Canadian feedlots: a case study," Canadian Journal of Animal Science 103(3), 249-261, (24 April 2023). https://doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2022-0132
Received: 10 November 2022; Accepted: 15 February 2023; Published: 24 April 2023
JOURNAL ARTICLE
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KEYWORDS
ammonia emissions
cattle
greenhouse gas emissions
land use
productivity-enhancing technologies
water use
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