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Research article2021Peer reviewedOpen access

Short communication: Identifying key parameters for modelling the impacts of livestock health conditions on greenhouse gas emissions

Kipling, R.P.; Bannink, A.; Bartley, D.J.; Blanco Penedo, Isabel; Faverdin, P.; Graux, A.-I.; Hutchings, N.J.; Kyriazakis, I.; Macleod, M; Østergaard, S.; Robinson, T.P.; Vitali, A.; Vosough Ahmadi, B.; Özkan Gülzar, S.

Abstract

Improved animal health can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity in livestock systems while increasing productivity. Integrated modelling of disease impacts on farm-scale emissions is important in identifying effective health strategies to reduce emissions. However, it requires that modellers understand the pathways linking animal health to emissions and how these might be incorporated into models. A key barrier to meeting this need has been the lack of a framework to facilitate effective exchange of knowledge and data between animal health experts and emissions modellers. Here, these two communities engaged in workshops, online exchanges and a survey to i) identify a comprehensive list of disease-related model parameters and ii) test its application to evaluating models. Fifty-six parameters were identified and proved effective in assessing the potential of farm-scale models to characterise livestock disease impacts on GHG emissions. Easy wins for the emissions models surveyed include characterising disease impacts related to feeding.

Keywords

Agricultural modelling; Climate change; Dairy production; Greenhouse gas emissions; Livestock health

Published in

Animal
2021, Volume: 15, number: 1, article number: 100023

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Agricultural Science
    Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2020.100023

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/109262