Effects of rotational grazing on carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas credits

Excerpt

Intensive rotational grazing systems are being promoted as a way to increase forage production and improve soil conditions relative to conventional grazing. Converting a livestock farm operation from conventional to an intensive rotational grazing system may also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxides, and methane. Improved forage quality and animal health may reduce animal methane emissions and increase the carbon sequestration potential of pasture soils. Conversion to intensive rotational grazing systems allows substitution of grass for harvested feed and reduces on-farm row crop production. Such substitutions have the potential to reduce nitrous oxide emissions through lower fertilizer applications and further enhance carbon sequestration in soil.

We examined the potential to reduce CO₂-equivalent emissions for a dairy farm and a cow-calf farm in Virginia. Greenhouse gas emissions were estimated under three farm boundary definitions and two emissions accounting metrics. A farm boundary analysis defines how much of the farm is considered when emissions reductions are considered. The three boundary conditions were (1) the pasture only, (2) the physical boundary of the entire farm, and (3) an extended boundary that includes the physical farm plus feed imports. The accounting metrics define the units of production activity over which …