Global warming is significantly exacerbated by the cattle industry. 14.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributable to cattle raising, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Cattle are the main offenders because they create methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that, over a 100-year period, is about 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2).
The management of manure and enteric fermentation are the main causes of methane production in cattle. In the rumen, enteric fermentation takes place as bacteria digest food to provide nutrients for the animal. Methane is produced as a byproduct of this process and is then exhaled into the atmosphere. Animal waste is stored and treated as part of manure management, which releases methane into the atmosphere. GHG emissions are also produced by other cattle farming-related operations like the production and delivery of feed and the processing of animals.
Livestock refers to a collection of domesticated animals. Along with sheep, goats, pigs, and other domesticated animals maintained for meat, dairy, or other products, cattle are a form of livestock. Cattle and animals are not synonymous since animals refers to a wider variety of organisms while cattle only refers to bovine species.
Domesticated birds kept for meat, eggs, or other goods are referred to as poultry, which is another category of livestock. Similar to cattle farming, poultry farming generates GHG emissions mostly through the management of manure and the manufacture of feed. However, poultry is a more environmentally friendly choice than cattle because it generates less methane per unit of product.
In summary, methane emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management caused by cattle farming significantly contribute to global warming. Although raising livestock is essential for food supply and rural livelihoods, efforts to cut GHG emissions from the industry are essential to preventing climate change. The efficiency of animal feed is being increased, manure emissions are being decreased, and farm operations are switching to renewable energy sources.