Investigating the Carbon Footprint of Cattle Grazing the Lac du Bois Grasslands of British Columbia

摘要: Greenhouse gas emissions from cattle have been increasingly recognized as an important anthropogenic source. We investigated the impact of ranching on these in British Columbia order to determine overall carbon footprint. The grazing activity within Lac du Bois grasslands was examined, with emphasis identifying point sources and removals greenhouse ranching. Enteric methane were empirically measured at two elevation gradients spring fall 2010. Cattle emitted average 370 L CH4 per day; measurements native are comparable work tame pastures. A life cycle analysis conducted a validated HOLOS model based empirical measurements. following grassland improvement strategies evaluated: reducing stocking density; reseeding/interseeding grass legumes without synthetic fertilizer additions. Reseeding most effective footprint grasslands. initiatives could theoretically result soil sequestration rates 2.12 Mg CO2 equivalent hectare. combination reductions should be implemented future reduce Columbia.