Performance of lambs, methane and nitrous oxide emission from grazed diverse swards

• Grant number: 23/16439-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Flávio Augusto Portela Santos
• Grantee: Larissa de Melo Coelho
• Supervisor: Amelia Katiane de Almeida
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Massey University, New Zealand
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/00518-1 - Impact of inclusion of dry distillers grains plus solubles on performance, nitrogen excretion, rumen microbiota and greenhouse gas emissions in feedlot cattle, BP.DR

Abstract

Given the climate changes currently occurring, the emission of greenhouse gases has been identified as the main cause, making it essential to build effective tools that contribute to reducing emissions. Carbon neutrality has been a societal challenge. Considering that livestock farming has a certain representation in greenhouse gas emissions, strategies for reducing and even carbon sequestration have been studied. In New Zealand, diversity of pasture species in animal production systems has been used as a strategy to improve resource use. However, it is questioned whether the excretion of nutrients and greenhouse gas emissions are mitigated in this system. An experiment will be carried out focusing on diverse pastures grazed by sheep. Characteristics will be measured to determine animal performance, forage quality and greenhouse gas emissions from the system, focusing on grazing preference of animals in this multi-species system, measure emissions of CH4 and N2O associated with these swards.