Page 10 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 115 - September 2023 - BINDED_Neat

CLIMATE CHANGE DEBATE

A NOTE ON METHANE IN AGRICULTURE

Climate change is a hot topic as countries across the world experience major
disasters arising from such changes both evolutionary and the impact of human
causes. Measures to reduce the impact from human causes, in particular since ma-
jor industrialisation, are the subject of world-wide intense discussion and debate.
Methane the second most important greenhouse gas is said to stay in the atmos-
phere for a decade before recycling.

The reduction of methane, a highly toxic and volatile gas, is a major contribu-
tor emanating from both fossil fuels and agriculture, principally animals’ emissions
but also soils and waste management. A major source of animal emissions is from
cattle, sheep, goats, and deer.

Scientists tell us that the amount of methane from livestock would be stable if
it were not for the increased demand for food due to ever increasing global popula-
tion.

On dairy farms 58% of methane emissions come directly from cow methane,
28% of which is from manure and 72% from enteric cow methane in the rumen.
Over 40% of cow methane produced on the farm is related to rumen fermentation.

The build up of methane on livestock holdings has had disastrous results as re-
ported earlier this year when one such explosion in the USA resulted in several hun-
dred animals being killed, and in Germany just over 90 animals died in similar cir-
cumstances.

A considerable amount of research has been undertaken in recent years, in this
country and abroad, and continues to expand. On the one hand covering improved
ways to calculate greenhouse gas emissions to all aspects of animal husbandry, soils
and environmental management, including methane-reducing feed additives for
ruminant livestock.

Pat Lunn
Past National President BPW-UK
Member of the BPW-UK Green Interest group