Symposium review: Uncertainties in enteric methane inventories, measurement techniques, and prediction models

This paper reviewed uncertainties and discrepancies in CH₄ inventories as related to livestock emissions, enteric CH₄ measurement methods, and DMI and CH₄ prediction models. Enteric CH₄ prediction models were based on various animal or feed characteristic inputs but were dominated by DMI in one form or another. As a result, accurate prediction of DMI is essential for accurate prediction of livestock CH₄ emissions. Analysis of a large data set of individual dairy cattle data showed that simplified enteric CH₄ prediction models based on DMI alone or DMI and limited feed- or animal-related inputs can predict average CH₄ emission with a similar accuracy to more complex empirical models. These simplified models can be reliably used for emission inventory purposes.

Hristov A, Kebreab E, Niu M, Oh J, Bannnk A, Bayat A, Boland T, Brito A, Casper D, Crompton L, Dijkstra J, Eugène M, Garnsworthy P, Haque N, Hellwing A, Huhtanen P, Kreuzer M, Kuhla B, Lund P, Madsen J, Martin C, Moate P, Muetzel S, Muñoz C, Peiren N, Powell J, Reynolds C, Schwarm A, Shingfield K, Storlein T, Weisbjerg M, Yáñez-Ruiz D, Yu Z

2018

Journal of dairy sciences