Search Results (68)

Annual greenhouse gas emissions from livestock (CO₂ equivalent) are estimated at approximately 7.1 billion tons, accounting for 14.5% of global emissions, with beef and dairy cattle production contributing 41% and 20% of total emissions, respectively. Greenhouse gases released by ruminants not only lead to feed energy loss but also result in environmental degradation. Therefore, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants is crucial for the sustainable development of the ruminant industry. The primary greenhouse gases produced by ruminants include nitrous oxide from ruminant manure storage and methane generated in the rumen via the action of methanogenic archaea. Tannins, a class of polyphenolic compounds present in many plants, play a significant role in animal feed. Recent studies have shown that incorporating certain tannins and their metabolic products into diets can modulate protein metabolism and the ruminal microbiome, thereby regulating greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants. This review summarizes the types and properties of dietary tannins, as well as the latest advancements in understanding the impacts of tannins and their metabolites on cattle nutrient digestion and greenhouse gas emissions, concluding that dietary tannin supplementation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants. Future research should focus on identifying the optimal concentrations of different tannins and their metabolites in diets to minimize ruminant greenhouse gas production while maintaining animal performance and health. Full article

Given the demand for sustainable and cost-effective manure management in livestock systems, this study evaluated the economic feasibility of cattle manure treatment via composting and anaerobic digestion (AD) under different configurations. Five scenarios were compared: composting without solid–liquid separation, AD without separation at 20- and 30-day hydraulic retention times (HRTs), and combined systems with separation, composting the solid fraction and digesting the liquid. The analysis was based on a 200-cow herd and experimental data, with 15-year projected cash flows. Economic indicators included net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), discounted payback period (DPP), benefit–cost ratio (B/C), modified internal rate of return (MIRR), uniform annual equivalent (UAE), and profitability index (PI), supported by sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation. All scenarios were viable and posed low risk. Energy and fertilizer value were key drivers. The scenario 30-day HRT without separation had the best financial performance (NPV = 53,407.15 USD; IRR = 15.54%; DPP = 7.33 years; B/C = 1.57; MIRR = 9.28%; UAE = 5654.48 USD; PI = 1.66) and is recommended for capitalized farms seeking higher returns. Composting had lower returns (NPV = 9832.06 USD) but required the lowest investment, remaining a cost-effective alternative for smallholders. Full article

The impacts of dairy farm manure production on the environment and surrounding ecosystems in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication are frequently studied and discussed, but the implications for the dairy cattle themselves that drink water predominantly sourced from surrounding groundwater commonly polluted with nitrates and bacteria from manure and surrounding crop fertilization applications are not often prioritized. This study reviews and synthesizes relevant literature connecting groundwater pollution—in terms of nitrates and bacteria—as it relates to water quality for dairy cattle consumption and the health and milk production implications and outlines pre-existing treatment and prevention options for nitrates and bacteria in conventional applications as well and the status of treatment options for dairy cattle drinking water specifically. After evaluating potential treatment options, point-of-use filtration is identified as a possible low-cost and customizable treatment option for treating dairy cattle drinking water with advantages, potential disadvantages, and filtration media options discussed. Additionally, the need for further research and testing to determine the capacity in field-scale applications is identified. Full article

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a foodborne pathogen and known to reside naturally in cattle. The application of untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin on fresh produce fields results in unique food safety challenges. It is critical to identify farm manure management practices to mitigate pre-harvest pathogen contamination. The objective of this study was to quantify the prevalence and level of STEC in cattle manure in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. A total of 161 bovine manure samples were collected from 13 cattle farms between 2016 and 2018. The samples were enriched with non-selective and selective media and quantified following a Most-Probable Number (MPN) assay. Among the recovered STEC isolates, PCR was performed to determine the presence of stx, eae, and rfbE. Clermont PCR was performed to identify phylogenetic groups of isolates. Of the 13 farms, 11 had STEC populations between <1.0 and >5.6 log MPN/g. Farm, humidity, and sampling year significantly (p < 0.05) influenced STEC populations in bovine manure. Of the 108 isolates, 50% were stx+ and 14% eae+. Phylogenetic group analysis revealed that 46% of the isolates belonged to group A, 19% to B1, 7% to B2, and 28% to D. Group D had the highest prevalence of stx+ and eae+ and group B1 had the lowest prevalence. Results suggest STEC geographical distribution in the Mid-Atlantic region is farm-specific, and climatic conditions can be critical for its survival and dissemination. Full article

Anaerobic digestion (AD) can offer a promising pathway for converting animal waste into biogas. This process improves waste management practices while generating renewable energy. However, the lignocellulosic structure of animal manure, particularly in dairy and cattle manure, hinders digestion efficiency and limits biogas yield. This study investigates the application of ball milling as a pretreatment strategy to enhance the anaerobic digestion of dairy manure. By reducing particle size and disrupting lignocellulosic structures, ball milling increases the bioavailability of organic matter, thus promoting microbial conversion and boosting biogas production. Experimental results reveal that 1 h ball milling pretreatment increases biogas and biomethane production by more than 20% compared to untreated manure. Furthermore, microbial community analysis indicates that anaerobic microbes remain largely unaffected by ball milling pretreatment, unlike the changes observed with activated carbon addition. These findings suggest that ball milling is a practical, adaptable, and scalable pretreatment method to enhance the anaerobic digestion efficiency of dairy manure. It offers a sustainable solution for improved manure management and biogas production. Full article

An increasing number of automation technologies for dairy cattle farming, including automatic milking, feeding, manure removal and bedding, are now commercially available. The effects of these technologies on individual aspects of animal welfare have already been explored to some extent. However, as of now, there are no studies that analyze the impact of increasing farm automation through various combinations of these technologies. The objective of this study was to examine potential correlations between welfare indicators from the Welfare Quality^® Assessment protocol and dairy farms with varying degrees of automation. To achieve this, 32 trial farms in Northern and Central Germany were categorized into varying automation levels using a newly developed classification system. The Welfare Quality^® Assessment protocol was used to conduct welfare assessments on all participating farms. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA), overall welfare scores and individual measures from the protocol were compared across farms with differing automation levels. No significant differences were observed in overall welfare scores, suggesting that the impact of automation does not exceed other farm-related factors influencing animal wellbeing, such as housing environment or management methods. However, significant effects of milking, feeding, and bedding systems on the appropriate behavior of cattle were observed. Higher levels of automation had a positive impact on the human–animal relationship and led to positive emotional states. Moreover, farms with higher automation levels had significantly lower scores for the prevalence of severe lameness and dirtiness of lower legs. It could be concluded that a higher degree of automation could help to improve animal welfare on dairy farms. Full article

Amid escalating climate change concerns, methane—a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential far exceeding that of carbon dioxide—demands urgent attention. The Canadian dairy industry significantly contributes to methane emissions through cattle enteric fermentation and manure management practices. Precise benchmarking of these emissions is critical for developing effective mitigation strategies. This study ingeniously integrates eight years of Sentinel-5P satellite data with advanced machine learning techniques to establish a methane concentration benchmark and predict future emission trends in the Canadian dairy sector. By meticulously analyzing weekly methane concentration data from 575 dairy farms and 384 dairy processors, we uncovered intriguing patterns: methane levels peak during autumn, and Ontario exhibits the highest concentrations among all provinces. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unexpected shifts in methane emissions due to altered production methods and disrupted supply chains. Our Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network model adeptly captures methane concentration trends, providing a powerful tool for planning and reducing emissions from dairy operations. This pioneering approach not only demonstrates the untapped potential of combining satellite data with machine learning for environmental monitoring but also paves the way for informed emission reduction strategies in the dairy industry. Future endeavors will focus on enhancing satellite data accuracy, integrating more granular farm and processor variables, and refining machine learning models to bolster prediction precision. Full article

With the rapid development of the animal farming industry in China, the large amount of manure has caused a systematic environmental problem, while the demand for high-quality feed continues to increase. The application of dairy cattle slurry to alfalfa fields is a simple and inexpensive solution to the problems above. A repacked soil column study was conducted to investigate the effect of slurry nitrogen (N) on alfalfa biomass, as well as its photosynthetic characteristics. Dairy cattle slurry N or mineral fertilizer N was applied in two dressings at the first cut, with a target amount of 90 kg ha⁻¹. A non-fertilization control (CK), a single mineral fertilizer N (MIN), and a slurry substitution for mineral N fertilizers (with equivalent N rate: FPS, 50% N from dairy cattle slurry; SLU, 100% N from dairy cattle slurry) were used. The results show that the slurry N increased the alfalfa biomass by 16.40–36.36% and the SPAD value by 30.27–61.34% with FPS and SLU treatments, respectively. Compared to the CK treatment, the FPS and SLU treatments meaningfully increased the net photosynthetic rate by 19.97–60.04% and 3.03–89.48%, the stomatal conductance by 10.53–57.14% and 15.38–88.89%, the intercellular CO₂ concentration by 5.78–24.92% and 7.21–32.53%, and the transpiration rate by 13.16–103.50% and 16.44–111.19%. More specifically, compared with the CK treatment, the N absorption of the SLU treatment increased by 6.78–12.30%, and the use efficiency increased by 30.98–46.60% in the SLU treatment. Similarly, phosphorus (P) absorption of the SLU treatment increased by 36.73–52.57%, and the use efficiency increased by 30.98–46.60%. Overall, the dairy cattle slurry N was utilized efficiently as mineral N for alfalfa biomass, improved the photosynthetic characteristics of alfalfa leaves, and increased the N and P use efficiency. Our results clarify the optimal amount of dairy cattle slurry to be applied and provide a scientific basis for the use of dairy cattle slurry in agricultural systems. Full article

Adult house flies (Musca domestica L.) inhabiting dairy farms not only are nuisance pests but also harbor and disseminate bacteria. We examined the bacterial community composition, diversity, environmental sources, and prevalence in individual adult female house flies and cattle manure samples collected monthly from Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee dairy farms between May and August 2021. Individual house flies carried diverse bacterial communities, encompassing all bacterial taxa (100%) identified across manure samples, and additional species likely acquired from the animals. Bacterial community assemblage in house flies and manure samples within farms varied by month. Some taxa were differentially associated with either house flies (Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, and Staphylococcus) or manure samples (Treponema, Succinivibrio, and Clostridia). House fly bacterial communities mostly contained specialist species originating from manure, with several taxa (Escherichia, Corynebacterium, Turicibacter) being potential pathogens of livestock and humans. These findings further support the role of house flies as carriers of cattle-associated bacteria, including pathogens, and their potential for disseminating these microbes among cattle and to neighboring environments. Since their bacterial communities provide a snapshot of their surrounding environment, house flies also serve as effective sentinels in xenosurveillance strategies. Full article

Ammonia is one of the precursor gases in the formation of particulate matter (PM) that reacts with nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides in the atmosphere. Based on the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS) of Korea, the annual ammonia emissions amounted to 261,207 tons in 2020 and the agricultural source (manure management sector) contributes the highest proportion of the ammonia inventory. However, the methodology for the study of ammonia emissions in Korea has some limitations regarding the representativeness of the sites selected and the reliability of the measurement method. In this study, we aimed to recalculate the ammonia emissions from the livestock industry in Korea using the UK’s estimation method, which uses the life cycle assessment of livestock manure. Three major animal types, i.e., cattle (beef cattle and dairy cows), pigs and chickens, and three major processes based on the manure flow, i.e., housing, manure storage and treatment and land application processes, were considered. The total ammonia emissions were estimated to be approximately 33% higher than the official ammonia emissions stated by the CAPSS. For the manure flow, the ammonia emissions were the highest from land application processes. The ammonia emissions from dairy cow and poultry manure were much higher than those stated by the CAPSS, while the emissions from beef cattle and pig manure showed similar levels. The methodology used in this study can offer an alternative approach to the ammonia emission estimation of the manure management sector in the agriculture industry of Korea. Korean emission factors based on the manure flow should be developed and applied in the future. Full article

Agricultural specialization has increased considerably in Europe over the last decades, leading to the separation of crop and livestock production at both farm and regional levels. Such a transformation is often associated with higher environmental burdens due to excessive reliance on exogenous inputs and manure management issues. Reconnecting crop and livestock production via mixed farming systems (MFSs) could improve circularity and resilience, leading to reduced environmental impacts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the life cycle environmental performance of a commercial mixed crop–dairy cattle farm in Romania and to compare it against the corresponding specialized systems. The evaluation covered both dairy cattle production (milk and meat) and cash crops. Overall, the results show that the coupled system improves environmental performance by reducing the over-reliance on high-impact inputs like synthetic fertilizers and exogenous feed. The carbon footprint for the milk production of the studied system (1.17 kg CO₂ eq.) per kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) was 10% lower than the mean value of common intensive milk production systems. The eutrophication impacts (2.52 × 10⁻⁴ kg P eq and 2.67 × 10⁻⁴ kg N eq./kg of FPCM) presented values of one order of magnitude less than their specialized counterparts. However, the impacts of the studied MFS, albeit lower than those for comparable specialized systems, still remain relatively high. In particular, methane emissions from enteric fermentation (0.54 kg CO₂ eq./kg FPCM) were a major contributor to the carbon footprint. This highlighted the need to address the elevated emissions from enteric fermentation with better feed management, as well as improving and reinforcing the system’s self-sufficiency. Full article

The dairy industry is facing criticism for its role in exacerbating global GHG emissions, as climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue. These emissions mostly originate from methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂). An optimal strategy involves the creation of an economical monitoring device to evaluate methane emissions from dairy animals. Livestock production systems encounter difficulties because of escalating food demand and environmental concerns. Enhancing animal productivity via nutrition, feeding management, reproduction, or genetics can result in a decrease in CH₄ emissions per unit of meat or milk. This CH₄ unit approach allows for a more accurate comparison of emissions across different animal production systems, considering variations in productivity. Expressing methane emissions per unit allows for easier comparison between different sources of emissions. Expressing emissions per unit (e.g., per cow) highlights the relative impact of these sources on the environment. By quantifying emissions on a per unit basis, it becomes easier to identify high-emission sources and target mitigation efforts accordingly. Many environmental policies and regulations focus on reducing emissions per unit of activity or output. By focusing on emissions per unit, policymakers and producers can work together to implement practices that lower emissions without sacrificing productivity. Expressing methane emissions in this way aligns with policy goals aimed at curbing overall greenhouse gas emissions. While it is true that total emissions affect the atmosphere globally, breaking down emissions per unit helps to understand the specific contributions of different activities and sectors to overall greenhouse gas emissions. Tackling cattle health issues can increase productivity, reduce GHG emissions, and improve animal welfare. Addressing livestock health issues can also provide favourable impacts on human health by reducing the prevalence of infectious illnesses in livestock, thereby mitigating the likelihood of zoonotic infections transmitting to humans. The progress in animal health offers the potential for a future in which the likelihood of animal diseases is reduced because of improved immunity, more effective preventative techniques, earlier identification, and innovative treatments. The primary objective of veterinary medicine is to eradicate clinical infectious diseases in small groups of animals. However, as the animal population grows, the emphasis shifts towards proactive treatment to tackle subclinical diseases and enhance production. Proactive treatment encompasses the consistent monitoring and implementation of preventive measures, such as vaccination and adherence to appropriate nutrition. Through the implementation of these measures, the livestock industry may enhance both animal well-being and mitigate the release of methane and nitrous oxide, thereby fostering environmental sustainability. In addition, advocating for sustainable farming methods and providing farmers with education on the significance of mitigating GHG emissions can bolster the industry’s endeavours to tackle climate change and infectious illnesses. This will result in a more robust and environmentally sustainable agriculture industry. This review seeks to conduct a thorough examination of the correlation between the health condition of cattle, the composition of milk produced, and the emissions of methane gas. It aims to identify areas where research is lacking and to provide guidance for future scientific investigations, policy making, and industry practices. The goal is to address the difficulties associated with methane emissions in the cattle industry. The primary global health challenge is to identify the causative relationship between climate change and infectious illnesses. Reducing CH₄ and N₂O emissions from digestive fermentation and animal manure can be achieved by improving animal well-being and limiting disease and mortality. Full article

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the specialization of agricultural production on selected parameters of soil health, i.e., soil organic carbon content (SOC), soil acidification, soil nutrient status, i.e., total nitrogen content (N_T), available forms of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, and microelements content, as well as the content of selected potentially toxic metals (PTMs). For the study, 18 farms located in the Masovian Voivodeship in Central Poland were selected. They were grouped into six types, and each type was represented by three farms. The study included organic farms; farms specializing in: crop, vegetable, poultry, dairy cattle, and pigs production. A total of 144 soil samples were analyzed. The results showed that the specialization of agricultural production and fertilizer management had a significant impact on most of the tested soil health parameters, except SOC and N_T content. Despite the high organic fertilizer doses introduced into soils in poultry (170 kg N per hectare as poultry manure) and pig farms (150 kg N per hectare as pig manure), there was no significant influence of these amendments on SOC content. This may indicate low organic carbon sequestration potential in some Polish agricultural soils. Organic farms had the lowest levels of plant nutrients in the tested soil samples, which may limit soil productivity. All the tested soils were strongly acidified, which could restrict both production and regulatory soil functions. Based on the synthetic index of soil fertility (SSFI), vegetable and poultry farms were characterized by very high fertility, while crop, dairy cattle, and pig farms fell into the medium fertility class. Organic farms were in the lowest fertility class. However, the study suggests that the SSFI may not be the best indicator for assessing soil fertility and health; therefore, further research is needed. Full article

We used published data consisting of 263 treatment mean observations from beef cattle and dairy steers and heifers, in which CH₄ was measured via chambers or head boxes, to evaluate relationships between enteric CH₄ production and dry matter intake (DMI) and dietary components. Daily DMI was positively related (slope = 15.371, p < 0.001) to total daily production (g/d) of CH₄ (r² = 0.821). Among chemical components, dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration was the most highly related (r² = 0.696; slope = 0.2001; p < 0.001) to CH₄ yield (g/kg of DMI), with strong relationships also noted for dietary starch:NDF ratio (r² = 0.662; slope = −2.4587; p < 0.001), starch (r² = 0.495; slope = −0.106; p < 0.001), and the proportion of metabolizable energy relative to gross energy (r² = 0.561; slope = −23.663; p < 0.001). The slope (−0.5871) and intercept (22.2295) for the dietary ether extract vs. CH₄ yield were significant (p < 0.001), but the relationship was highly variable (r² = 0.150). For dietary crude protein concentration, the slope for CH₄ yield was not significant (−0.0344; p < 0.381) with an r² value near zero. Decreasing DMI by programming body weight gain or restricting feed intake could decrease CH₄ production in confined cattle, but these approaches might negatively affect growth performance and product quality, potentially negating positive effects on CH₄ production. Feeding higher-quality forages or using grazing management systems that decrease dietary NDF concentrations or substituting grain (starch) for forage should decrease both CH₄ yield from enteric production and manure CH₄ production via increased digestibility. Effects of feeding management and diet formulation strategies should be additive with other mitigation approaches such as feed additives, allowing the cattle industry to achieve maximal decreases in enteric CH₄ production, while concurrently maintaining optimal beef production. Full article

Salmonella isolated from dairy farms has a significant effect on animal health and productivity. Different serogroups of Salmonella affect both human and bovine cattle causing illness in both reservoirs. Dairy cows and calves can be silent Salmonella shedders, increasing the possibility of dispensing Salmonella within the farm. The aim of this study was to determine the genomic characteristics of Salmonella isolates from dairy farms and to detect the presence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. A total of 377 samples were collected in a cross-sectional study from calves, periparturient cow feces, and maternity beds in 55 dairy farms from the states of Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Mexico, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Tlaxcala, and Zacatecas. Twenty Salmonella isolates were selected as representative strains for whole genome sequencing. The serological classification of the strains was able to assign groups to only 12 isolates, but with only 5 of those being consistent with the genomic serotyping. The most prevalent serovar was Salmonella Montevideo followed by Salmonella Meleagridis. All isolates presented the chromosomal aac(6′)-Iaa gene that confers resistance to aminoglycosides. The antibiotic resistance genes qnrB19, qnrA1, sul2, aph(6)-Id, aph(3)-ld, dfrA1, tetA, tetC, flor2, sul1_15, mph(A), aadA2, blaCARB, and qacE were identified. Ten pathogenicity islands were identified, and the most prevalent plasmid was Col(pHAD28). The main source of Salmonella enterica is the maternity areas, where periparturient shedders are contaminants and perpetuate the pathogen within the dairy in manure, sand, and concrete surfaces. This study demonstrated the necessity of implementing One Health control actions to diminish the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant and virulent pathogens including Salmonella. Full article