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Preliminary estimates of on-farm methane emissions for sheep production on the Northern Tablelands of Australia

Preliminary estimates of on-farm methane emissions for sheep production on the Northern Tablelands of Australia. Estimating on-farm sheep methane emissions.

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Preliminary estimates of on-farm methane emissions for sheep production on the Northern Tablelands of Australia

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  1. Preliminary estimates of on-farm methane emissions for sheep production on the Northern Tablelands of Australia Estimating on-farm sheep methane emissions Preliminary results of estimating on-farm methane emissions for sheep production on the Northern Tablelands of Australia– Dr Malcolm McPhee – Animal Production – 15th February 2011

  2. Outline • Background • Sheep production on the Northern Tablelands • Objectives • On-farm data collection • Methane estimates and analyses • Sheep production data • Preliminary results

  3. “Reducing Livestock Emissions Program” to demonstrate potential mitigation strategies for enteric emissions. CSIRO: Lansdown, Qld UNE: Trevenna, Armidale, NSW UWA: Ridgefield, Pingelly, WA DPI Victoria: DPI Hamilton/ Demo dairy Terang, Victoria

  4. CSIRO: Lansdown, Qld UNE: Trevenna, Armidale, NSW UWA: Ridgefield, Pingelly, WA DPI Victoria: DPI Hamilton/ Demo dairy Terang, Victoria

  5. Main Project Objectives at the Trevenna site • Demonstrate • differences in methane (CH4) production from sheep grazing on different landscapes: • low fertility (hills @ 3.7 DSE/ha) versus • high fertility (flats @ 6.7 DSE/ha) • techniques for • estimating CH4 (e.g. GrazFeed) and • measuring CH4 (e.g. FTIR)

  6. The Site - 36 ha at “Trevenna” UNE, Armidale • 2 landscapes (hills and flats) • 3 classes (A,B,C) • 3 paddocks (1,2,3)/class Flats Flats Hills

  7. On-farm data collection • Soil samples • Pasture collection (monthly) • Green • Dead • Digestibility • Animal (monthly) • Live weights • Condition scores • Wool (yearly) • Staple and tensile strength and fibre diameter

  8. On-farm data collection (continued) • GPS satellite data • ‘Crop Circle’ scanning equipment • GPS tracking devices • On-farm energy use e.g. fertilizer; supplementary feeding • Nitrous oxide (N2O) • H2O balance

  9. Methane estimates and analyses • Methane estimates • GrazFeedTM • AusFarmTM • SGS • Methane analyses • Life cycle analysis • Economic analysis

  10. Sheep Production • 144 Merino ewes group mated with Border Leicester rams • 6 flocks (3 on the hills and 3 on the flats) • 3.7 DSE/ha on hills • 6.7 DSE/ha on flats • lambing in September.

  11. Crop Circle Relationship Between Green Biomass and Crop Scanner Index Heading Green Biomass (kg DM/ha) Y=15.1exp6.8x R2=0.63 Crop Scanner Index

  12. Index map: Green Pasture Available (kg DM/ha) Flats Hills (kg DM/ha) Flats

  13. Intensity of grazing from 8th Sept to 18th October (kg DM/ha)

  14. Methane (CH4) produced (g)/kg live weight gain (LWG) on the hills and flats based on pasture available (GrazFeedTM Inputs and Outputs) From crop scanning and pasture assessment data

  15. Methane (CH4) produced (g)/kg live weight gain (LWG) on the hills and flats based on pasture available (GrazFeedTM Inputs and Outputs) From crop scanning and pasture assessment data

  16. Conclusions • On a sustainably stocked production system • the flats produced lower methane emissions per kg LWG • Trevenna a demonstration site for farmer delivery • estimating CH4 (e.g. GrazFeed) and • demonstrating how to increase economic viability consistent with delivering lower emissions intensity

  17. Acknowledgements • Advisory Team Members • Clare Edwards Agronomist. I & I NSW • Jim Meckiff Livestock Officer. I & I NSW • Chris Shands Livestock Officer. I & I NSW • UNE Farm Management • Neil Baillie Senior Technical Officer. UNE • Paul Arnott Farm Manager. UNE • Crop circle scanner • Derek Schneider. UNE • Research Team Members • Roger Hegarty. UNE • Darryl Savage. UNE • Annette Cowie. PIIC – UNE & I & I NSW • Chris Guppy. UNE • David Lamb. UNE • Producer Advisory Group

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