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Estimation of the methane emission factor for the Italian Mediterranean buffalo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2008

R. D. Cóndor*
Affiliation:
Agenzia per la protezione dell’ambiente e per i servizi tecnici, Via V. Brancati, 48, 00144 Rome, Italy
L. Valli
Affiliation:
Centro Ricerche Produzioni Animali, Cso. Garibaldi, 42, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy
G. De Rosa
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta, dell’Ambiente e delle Produzioni animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici (Napoli), Italy
A. Di Francia
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta, dell’Ambiente e delle Produzioni animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici (Napoli), Italy
R. De Lauretis
Affiliation:
Agenzia per la protezione dell’ambiente e per i servizi tecnici, Via V. Brancati, 48, 00144 Rome, Italy
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Abstract

In order to contribute to the improvement of the national greenhouse gas emission inventory, this work aimed at estimating a country-specific enteric methane (CH4) emission factor for the Italian Mediterranean buffalo. For this purpose, national agriculture statistics, and information on animal production and farming conditions were analysed, and the emission factor was estimated using the Tier 2 model of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Country-specific CH4 emission factors for buffalo cows (630 kg body weight, BW) and other buffalo (313 kg BW) categories were estimated for the period 1990–2004. In 2004, the estimated enteric CH4 emission factor for the buffalo cows was 73 kg/head per year, whereas that for other buffalo categories it was 56 kg/head per year. Research in order to determine specific CH4 conversion rates at the predominant production system is suggested.

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Full Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

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