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Can animal genetics and flock management be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also maintain productivity of wool-producing enterprises?

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  • Alcock, Douglas J.
  • Harrison, Matthew T.
  • Rawnsley, Richard P.
  • Eckard, Richard J.

Abstract

Farm intervention strategies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the livestock industries may reduce global emissions associated with agriculture, though farmers are unlikely to adopt new practises unless they also improve farm profitability. Here our objective was to explore the effect of manipulating enterprise management or animal genotype on whole-farm production, profitability, enteric methane emissions and wool emissions intensities of sheep enterprises in southern Australia. Two enterprises that differed in lamb sale age were simulated using the model GrassGro; surplus animals were sold at either 18 weeks (weaner) or 12 months old (yearling). We examined the influence of lambing time (LT), joining maiden ewes at 7 months instead of 19 months of age (JA), increasing lamb weaning rates (WR), or superior genotypes with 10% improvement in fleece weight (FW), feed efficiency (FE) and/or methane yield (MY).

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:132:y:2015:i:c:p:25-34
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2014.06.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    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. Kragt, Marit E. & Pannell, David J. & Robertson, Michael J. & Thamo, Tas, 2012. "Assessing costs of soil carbon sequestration by crop-livestock farmers in Western Australia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 27-37.
    4. 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.
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    Cited by:

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