IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/afbmau/121466.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Estimating on-farm methane emissions for sheep production on the Northern Tablelands: establishment of demonstration site

Author

Listed:
  • McPhee, Malcolm J.
  • Edwards, Clare
  • Meckiff, Jim
  • Ballie, Neil
  • Schneider, Derek
  • Arnott, Paul
  • Cowie, Annette l.
  • Savage, Darryl
  • Lamb, David
  • Guppy, Chris
  • McCorkell, Bruce E.
  • Hegarty, Roger S.

Abstract

A 36-hectare demonstration site at Armidale on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales has been established to give livestock producers a practical insight into the magnitude of carbon fluxes, especially methane (CH4), associated with crossbred lamb production. The site contains soil and topographical diversity typical of the region (pH 4.8–5.1 (1:5 CaCl2); soil organic carbon 1.2–3.8%; cation exchange capacity 3–41 meq/100g). The replicated study over two years will compare animal productivity and emissions of low stocking rate enterprises on a low fertility (hill) section of the site (3.7 DSE/ha) with those of high soil fertility enterprises on the more fertile alluvial flats (6.7 DSE/ha). An EM38 soil map and seven soil samples were used to characterise the soil diversity within the two landscapes and to block each landscape into three classes (A, B, C), with three paddocks/class. Monthly pasture (green and dead DM availability) and regular production data (liveweight gain, fat score, fecundity, wool and lamb carcass weights at slaughter) will be collected. These measures will be used in decision support tools to estimate total on-farm CH4 emissions, emission per unit product, and to conduct a life cycle analysis of the contrasting enterprises. It is intended to use the site as a regional reference point for effective integration of farm carbon, productivity and economic understandings.

Suggested Citation

  • McPhee, Malcolm J. & Edwards, Clare & Meckiff, Jim & Ballie, Neil & Schneider, Derek & Arnott, Paul & Cowie, Annette l. & Savage, Darryl & Lamb, David & Guppy, Chris & McCorkell, Bruce E. & Hegarty, R, 2011. "Estimating on-farm methane emissions for sheep production on the Northern Tablelands: establishment of demonstration site," AFBM Journal, Australasian Farm Business Management Network, vol. 7(2), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:afbmau:121466
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.121466
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/121466/files/McPhee%20et%20al11.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.121466?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gibson, Trevor S. & Allan, Geoff L. & File, Geoff & Mullen, John D. & Scott-Orr, Helen, 2007. "Priorities and Principles for Investment in Aquaculture Research by NSW Department of Primary Industries," Research Reports 37665, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Research Economists.
    2. Freer, M. & Moore, A. D. & Donnelly, J. R., 1997. "GRAZPLAN: Decision support systems for Australian grazing enterprises--II. The animal biology model for feed intake, production and reproduction and the GrazFeed DSS," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 77-126, May.
    3. Moore, A. D. & Donnelly, J. R. & Freer, M., 1997. "GRAZPLAN: Decision support systems for Australian grazing enterprises. III. Pasture growth and soil moisture submodels, and the GrassGro DSS," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 535-582, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Perillat, B. J. & Brown, W. J. & Cohen, R. D. H., 2004. "A risk efficiency analysis of backgrounding and finishing steers on pasture in Saskatchewan, Canada," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 80(3), pages 213-233, June.
    2. Moore, A.D. & Holzworth, D.P. & Herrmann, N.I. & Huth, N.I. & Robertson, M.J., 2007. "The Common Modelling Protocol: A hierarchical framework for simulation of agricultural and environmental systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 95(1-3), pages 37-48, December.
    3. Moore, A.D. & Robertson, M.J. & Routley, R., 2011. "Evaluation of the water use efficiency of alternative farm practices at a range of spatial and temporal scales: A conceptual framework and a modelling approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(2), pages 162-174, February.
    4. McPhee, Malcolm J. & Evered, Mark & Andrews, Todd & Pacheco, David & Dougherty, Holland C. & Ingham, Aaron B. & Harden, Steven & Crean, Jason & Roche, Leslie & Eastburn, Danny J. & Oltjen, James W. & , 2019. "Beef production simulation of nitrate and lipid supplements for pasture and rangeland fed enterprises," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 19-27.
    5. Ghahramani, Afshin & Moore, Andrew D., 2015. "Systemic adaptations to climate change in southern Australian grasslands and livestock: Production, profitability, methane emission and ecosystem function," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 158-166.
    6. Alcock, Douglas J. & Harrison, Matthew T. & Rawnsley, Richard P. & Eckard, Richard J., 2015. "Can animal genetics and flock management be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also maintain productivity of wool-producing enterprises?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 25-34.
    7. Alford, Andrew R. & Griffith, Garry R. & Cacho, Oscar J., 2003. "A Northern Tablelands Whole-Farm Linear Program for Economic Evaluation of New Technologies at the Farm-Level," Research Reports 28010, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Research Economists.
    8. Donnelly, J. R. & Freer, M. & Salmon, L. & Moore, A. D. & Simpson, R. J. & Dove, H. & Bolger, T. P., 2002. "Evolution of the GRAZPLAN decision support tools and adoption by the grazing industry in temperate Australia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 74(1), pages 115-139, October.
    9. Asseng, Senthold & Thomas, Dean & McIntosh, Peter & Alves, Oscar & Khimashia, Nirav, 2012. "Managing mixed wheat–sheep farms with a seasonal forecast," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 50-56.
    10. Donnelly, J. R. & Moore, A. D. & Freer, M., 1997. "GRAZPLAN: Decision support systems for Australian grazing enterprises--I. Overview of the GRAZPLAN project, and a description of the MetAccess and LambAlive DSS," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 57-76, May.
    11. McCown, R. L., 2002. "Changing systems for supporting farmers' decisions: problems, paradigms, and prospects," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 74(1), pages 179-220, October.
    12. Thamo, Tas & Addai, Donkor & Kragt, Marit E. & Kingwell, Ross S. & Pannell, David J. & Robertson, Michael J., 2019. "Climate change reduces the mitigation obtainable from sequestration in an Australian farming system," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 63(4), October.
    13. Nasca, J.A. & Feldkamp, C.R. & Arroquy, J.I. & Colombatto, D., 2015. "Efficiency and stability in subtropical beef cattle grazing systems in the northwest of Argentina," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 85-96.
    14. Donnelly, J. R. & Freer, M. & Moore, A. D., 1998. "Using the GrassGro decision support tool to evaluate some objective criteria for the definition of exceptional drought," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 57(3), pages 301-313, July.
    15. Browne, Natalie & Kingwell, Ross S. & Behrendt, Ralph & Eckard, Richard, 2012. "Comparing the profitability of sheep, beef, dairy and grain farms in southwest Victoria under different rainfall scenarios," 2012 Conference (56th), February 7-10, 2012, Fremantle, Australia 124249, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    16. Harrison, Matthew T. & Jackson, Tom & Cullen, Brendan R. & Rawnsley, Richard P. & Ho, Christie & Cummins, Leo & Eckard, Richard J., 2014. "Increasing ewe genetic fecundity improves whole-farm production and reduces greenhouse gas emissions intensities," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 23-33.
    17. Brown, Peter D. & Cochrane, Thomas A. & Krom, Thomas D., 2010. "Optimal on-farm irrigation scheduling with a seasonal water limit using simulated annealing," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(6), pages 892-900, June.
    18. Browne, Natalie & Kingwell, Ross & Behrendt, Ralph & Eckard, Richard, 2013. "The relative profitability of dairy, sheep, beef and grain farm enterprises in southeast Australia under selected rainfall and price scenarios," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 35-44.
    19. Lo, Yueh-Hsin & Blanco, Juan A. & Canals, Rosa M. & González de Andrés, Ester & San Emeterio, Leticia & Imbert, J. Bosco & Castillo, Federico J., 2015. "Land use change effects on carbon and nitrogen stocks in the Pyrenees during the last 150 years: A modeling approach," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 312(C), pages 322-334.
    20. White, Robin R. & Brady, Michael & Capper, Judith L. & Johnson, Kristen A., 2014. "Optimizing diet and pasture management to improve sustainability of U.S. beef production," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 1-12.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Farm Management;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:afbmau:121466. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/afbmnea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.