Jan.
30, 2013 — Scientists have long known that cattle produce carbon dioxide
and methane throughout their lives, but a new study pinpoints the cow-calf
stage as a major contributor of greenhouse gases during beef production.
In a
new paper for the Journal of Animal Science, scientists estimate
greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle during different stages of life. They
show that, depending on which production system farmers used, beef production
has a carbon footprint ranging from 10.7 to 22.6 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent
per kg of hot carcass weight.
According
to study co-author Frank Mitloehner, an associate professor in the Department
of Animal Science at UC Davis, one source of greenhouse gases was surprising.
"If
you look at everything that contributes to greenhouse gases through the beef
supply chain, then it is the cow-calf that produces the greatest greenhouse
gases," Mitloehner said.
In
the cow-calf phase, the cow gives birth and nurses the calf until the calf is
six to 10 months old. During this time, the cow eats rough plants like hay and
grasses. The methane-producing bacteria in the cow's gut thrive on these
plants.
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