Impact of productivity enhancing technologies on the environmental footprint of backgrounded and finished beef cattle

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dc.contributor.authorFortier, Sydney
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeGizaw, Getahun (Animal Science)
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeLardner, Bart (Animal Science)
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeTenuta, Mario (Soil Science)
dc.contributor.supervisorOminski, Kim
dc.contributor.supervisorMcAllister, Tim
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-16T16:10:24Z
dc.date.available2024-01-16T16:10:24Z
dc.date.issued2023-12-22
dc.date.submitted2024-01-04T17:15:03Zen_US
dc.date.submitted2024-01-16T15:38:01Zen_US
dc.degree.disciplineAnimal Scienceen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science (M.Sc.)
dc.description.abstractThe objective of this research was to examine the use of productivity enhancing technologies (PETs) and post-weaning management on the environmental impacts of beef steers in western Canada. The PETs considered included ionophores and hormone implants administered to steers raised in one of the three management systems: i) direct finishing (Heavy), ii) backgrounded in pens prior to finishing (Medium), and backgrounded in pens and on pasture prior to finishing (Light). Environmental parameters (greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), ammonia (NH3) emissions, land requirements and water use) were modeled using a whole-farm perspective to better understand the environmental footprint of the Canadian beef industry. Use of PETs led to a 10-13% reduction in GHG emissions (CO2e kg boneless beef-1), a 10-32% decrease in NH3 emissions (kg NH3 kg boneless beef-1), required 9-22% less land (ha kg boneless beef-1) and used 12-25% less water (m3 kg boneless beef-1) compared to natural steers. Direct finishing compared to backgrounded, and 2-stage backgrounded steers reduced GHG emissions by 32% and 39% kg CO2e kg boneless beef-1, NH3 emissions by 36% and 52% kg NH3 kg boneless beef-1, land requirements by 25% and 73% ha kg boneless beef-1 and water use by 18% and 51% m3 kg boneless beef-1, respectively. Varying post-weaning strategies allows producers to value-add (additional weight through backgrounding) and maximize the use of available feed, including grazing of grasslands. The full environmental impacts of removal of PETs from Canadian beef production must consider a whole-systems approach including economic viability, ecosystem services, as well as consumer demand and social acceptance.
dc.description.noteFebruary 2024
dc.description.sponsorshipMitacs: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004489
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/37990
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectProductivity enhancing technologies
dc.subjectBeef cattle
dc.subjectEnvironmental sustainability
dc.subjectGreenhouse gas
dc.subjectAmmonia
dc.subjectLand
dc.subjectWater
dc.subjectBackgrounding
dc.subjectGrazing
dc.subjectFinishing
dc.titleImpact of productivity enhancing technologies on the environmental footprint of backgrounded and finished beef cattle
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
local.subject.manitobano
oaire.awardNumberENV.15.17
oaire.awardTitleBeef Science Cluster
project.funder.identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005019
project.funder.nameBeef Cattle Research Council
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