Carbon balance in animal production systems: Emission sources and mitigation options

Global climate change has intensified in recent years, the main cause of which is attributed to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. The three main GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Animal production operations can be a big emitter of these gases. The present paper reviews the main emission sources and mitigation options for these gases. Avoiding deforestation and including trees in production systems are the main alternatives for mitigating CO2 emissions. The production of CH4 can be reduced by including dietary ingredients that alter the rumen fermentation and, by lowering the age at the slaughter of meat animals. The N2O emissions can be reduced by increasing nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen fertilizer management. Measuring the magnitude of GHG emissions and mitigation options represents a great opportunity for future research in animal science