Evaluation of a Model to Predict Enteric Methane Production from Feedlot Cattle
Channel: Livestock & Poultry Environ. Learning Community
Date: 2017-05-19

Continual refinement of methods estimating enteric methane production in beef finishing cattle provides a more accurate assessment of the environmental impact of the beef industry.  The USDA-OCE publication “Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Agriculture and Forestry: Methods for Entity-Scale Inventory” identified conservation practices and management strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving agriculture production (Eve et al., 2014).  In Chapter 5 a new method to estimate effects of nutrition and management on enteric methane production of feedlot cattle is provided.  The system recommends using adjustment factors to correct the IPCC (2006) tier 2 Methane Conversion Factor (Ym) of 3.0% of gross energy intake to an adjusted Ym.  Adjustment factors are used for dietary grain and fat concentrations, grain type and processing method, and ionophore use.  These adjustment factors let beef producers more accurately determine the enteric methane production associated with their individual finishing operation. For more, visit: http://extension.org/74392