Developing Competitive Livestock Production Systems with Low Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in Central America

Farms with lower intensification only have grazing systems and generate more CH₄ emissions than higher intensified farms. In contrast, farms with greater intensification systems have feeding strategies such as supplementing lactating cows with commercial concentrates, minerals, and silage. Furthermore, they tend to implement more management strategies such as pasture management plans, soil analysis, technical fertilization recommendations, rest periods, proper animal load and type of grasses and legumes usage. All these strategies result in greater milk production per cow and lower CH₄ emissions per liter of milk produced. Enteric fermentation is the main source of livestock emissions. Less intensified farms only have grazed animals and generate 103% more methane emissions than more intensified farms that supplement with forage banks and concentrates. Furthermore, more intensified farms produce an average of 2.1 more liters of milk per cow. The project was funded by the New Zealand Government as part of its contribution to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).