Environmental Implications of Animal Production

1. Environmental Implications of Animal Production LO – 4.3 (l) Discuss the environmental implications of animal production

2. Greenhouse Gas Production • All living things produce greenhouse gases (GHG) – increasing earth’s temperatures • Most common GHG – water vapour, methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide & ozone • Ruminants produce large amounts of methane gas (CH4) – especially when reared in intensive production systems (e.g. feedlots in cattle) rather than extensive systems (e.g. pasture based systems)

3. Sources of GHG • Carbon dioxide – fossil fuels – fuel for machinery • Methane – Livestock animals • Nitrous oxide – manure & artificial fertiliser application & loss of ammonia during growing season (Hermansen et al., 2011)

4. Affect on Water Quality • Water quality can be affected when animals are allowed to drink directly from rivers / streams. They defecated in the water & stir up mud leading to pollution & reducing quality of water • Also, run-off from spreading of slurry, manure & fertilisers into water can also lead to a reduction in the quality of water • What can farmers do to protect the quality of water?

5. Smell • Odour that comes in spring (after 15th Jan) when farmers start to agitate tanks can be very strong & release vast amounts of GHG • Farmers need to reduce the amount of gas being released: • Anaerobic digestors • Trailing shoe – slurry spreading • Research topic – research the use of anaerobic digestors on farms - & state their advantages & disadvantages

6. Minimise Impact from Agriculture? • Reduce the carbon footprint on the farm • Can you describe 3 ways that farmers could reduce their carbon footprints & maybe turn their farms into ‘carbon sinks’

7. Bibliography • https://matteroftrust.org/what-is-the-impact-of-animal-production-on-the-environment/ • https://animalsmart.org/animals-and-the-environment/environmental-impact-of-animal-production