• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.645-662
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• 2024

Climate change, driven by the natural process of global warming, is a worldwide issue of significant concern because of its adverse effects on livestock output. The increasing trend of environmental temperature surging has drastically affected meat production and meat product quality, hence result in economic losses for the worldwide livestock business. Due to the increasing greenhouse gas emissions, the situation would get prolonged, and heat exposure-related stress is expected to worsen. Heat exposure causes metabolic and physiological disruptions in livestock. Ruminants and monogastric animals are very sensitive to heat stress due to their rate of metabolism, development, and higher production levels. Before slaughter, intense hot weather triggers muscle glycogen breakdown, producing pale, mushy, and exudative meat with less water-holding capacity. Animals exposed to prolonged high temperatures experience a decrease in their muscle glycogen reserves, producing dry, dark, and complex meat with elevated final pH and increased water-holding capacity. Furthermore, heat stress also causes oxidative stresses, especially secondary metabolites from lipid oxidation, severely affects the functionality of proteins, oxidation of proteins, decreasing shelf life, and food safety by promoting exfoliation and bacterial growth. Addressing the heat-related issues to retain the sustainability of the meat sector is an essential task that deserves an inclusive and comprehensive approach. Considering the intensity of the heat stress effects, this review has been designed primarily to examine the consequences of hot environment temperatures and related stresses on the quality and safety of meat and secondarily focus on cutting edge technology to reduce or alleviate the situational impact.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2018

This study aims to evaluate the performance of the Air Quality Model (AQM) for the seasonal and spatial distribution of the $NH_3$ concentration in the atmosphere. To obtain observational data for the model validation, observations based on biweekly sampling have been conducted using passive samplers since April 2015 at multiple monitoring sites in the Tokyo metropolitan area. AQM, built based on WRF/CMAQ, was applied to predict the $NH_3$ concentration observed from April 2015 to March 2016. The simulation domain includes the Kanto region, which is the most densely populated area in Japan. Because the area also contains large amount of livestock, especially in its northern part, the density of the $NH_3$ emissions derived from human activities and agriculture there are estimated to be the highest in Japan. In the model validation, the model overestimated the observed $NH_3$ concentration in the summer season and underestimated it in the winter season. In particular, the overestimation in the summer was remarkable at a rural site (Komae) in Tokyo. It was found that the overestimation at Komae was caused by the transportation of $NH_3$ emitted in the northern part of the Kanto region during the night. It is suggested that the emission input used in this study overestimated the $NH_3$ emission from human sources around the Tokyo suburbs and agricultural sources in the northern part of the Kanto region in the summer season. In addition, the current emission inventories might overestimate the difference of the agricultural $NH_3$ emissions among seasons. Because the overestimation of $NH_3$ in the summer causes an overestimation of $NO_3{^-}$ in $PM_{2.5}$ in the AQM simulation, further investigation is necessary for the seasonal variation in the $NH_3$ emissions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.132-148
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• 2023

Ruminants are the main contributors to methane (CH₄), a greenhouse gas emitted by livestock, which leads to global warming. In addition, animals experience heat stress (HS) when exposed to high ambient temperatures. Organic trace minerals are commonly used to prevent the adverse effects of HS in ruminants; however, little is known about the role of these minerals in reducing enteric methane emissions. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the influence of dietary organic trace minerals on rumen fermentation characteristics, enteric methane emissions, and the composition of rumen bacteria and methanogens in heat-stressed dairy steers. Holstein (n=3) and Jersey (n=3) steers were kept separately within a 3×3 Latin square design, and the animals were exposed to HS conditions (Temperature-Humidity Index [THI], 82.79 ± 1.10). For each experiment, the treatments included a Control (Con) consisting of only basal total mixed rations (TMR), National Research Council (NRC) recommended mineral supplementation group (NM; TMR + [Se 0.1 ppm + Zn 30 ppm + Cu 10 ppm]/kg dry matter), and higher concentration of mineral supplementation group (HM; basal TMR + [Se 3.5 ppm + Zn 350 ppm + Cu 28 ppm]/kg dry matter). Higher concentrations of trace mineral supplementation had no influence on methane emissions and rumen bacterial and methanogen communities regardless of breed (p > 0.05). Holstein steers had higher ruminal pH and lower total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations than Jersey steers (p < 0.05). Methane production (g/d) and yield (g/kg dry matter intake) were higher in Jersey steers than in Holstein steers (p < 0.05). The relative abundances of Methanosarcina and Methanobrevibacter olleyae were significantly higher in Holstein steers than in Jersey steers (p < 0.05). Overall, dietary organic trace minerals have no influence on enteric methane emissions in heat-stressed dairy steers; however, breed can influence it through selective alteration of the rumen methanogen community.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: The main source of ammonia in soils, South Korea is agricultural emissions (e.g., fertilizer application and livestock manure), with the recent emission inventories reporting them to be approximately 80% of the total emissions. Ammonia as a pollutant is originated largely from agricultural activity and is an important contributor to air quality issues in South Korea. The importance of ammonia in agricultural land is also emerging. In this study, the characteristics of ammonia emission from Chinese cabbage cultivation fields with application rates of urea sere were evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ammonia emission characteristics were investigated at the different urea application rates (0, 160, 320, and 640 kg ha-1) and the ammonia emission factor in the Chinese cabbage cultivation field was calculated. As application rate of urea application increased, ammonia emissions increased proportionally. In 2020 and 2021, cumulative ammonia emissions with urea 320 kg ha^-1 treatment were 39.3 and 35.2 kg ha^-1, respectively for 2020 and 2021. When urea fertilizer was applied, the ammonia emission factors were 0.1217 and 0.1358 NH₄⁺-N kg N kg^-1 in 2020 and 2021, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): Ammonia emissions increased as application rate of urea increased, and the average ammonia emission factor of the Chinese cabbage cultivation field for two years was 0.129 NH₄⁺-N kg N kg^-1.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.222-227
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: Among the biomass conversion techniques of livestock manure, composting process is a method of decomposing organic matter through microorganisms, and converting it into fertilizer in soil. The aerobic composting process is capable of treating cow manure in large quantities, and produces greenhouse gas as CO₂ and N₂O, although it has economical benefit. By using the activated rice hull biochar, which is a porous material, it was intended to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions, and to produce the compost of which quality was high. Objective of this experiment was to estimate CO₂ and N₂O emissions through composting process of cow manure with different cooperated biochar contents. METHODS AND RESULTS: The treatments of activated rice hull biochar were set at 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%, respectively, during composting cow manure. The CO₂ emission in the control was 534.7 L kg^-1, but was 385.5 L kg^-1 at 15% activated rice hull biochar. Reduction efficiency of CO₂ emission was estimated to be 28%. N₂O emission was 0.28 L kg^-1 in the control, but was 0.03 L min^-1 at 15% of activated rice hull biochar, estimating about 89% reduction efficiency. CONCLUSION: Greenhouse gas emissions during the composting process of cow manure can be reduced by mixing with 15% of activated rice hull biochar for eco-friendly compost production.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2009

Ammonia in atmosphere has a negative effect on the natural ecosystems, such as soil acidification and eutrophication, by wet and dry deposition. Livestock manure, compost, and fertilizer applications to arable land have been recognised as a major source of atmospheric ammonia emissions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of compost application techniques in reducing ammonia loss in upland soil. The reductions in ammonia emission were 70 and 15% for immediate rotary after application (IRA) and rotary at 3 day after application (RA-3d) in comparison with surface application (SA). Total ammonia emissions for 13 days, expressed as % ammonia-N applied with compost, were 42, 35.7, and 12.7% for SA, RA-3d, and IRA treatments, respectively. The ammonia emission rate fell rapidly 6 h after application and 61 % of total ammonia emission occurred within the first 24 h following surface application. The lime application along with compost significantly enhanced the total ammonia emission. Total ammonia emission for 22 days were 40.1, 31.4, and 27.7 kg/ha for immediate incorporation in soil after lime and compost application, lime incorporation in soil following 3 days after compost surface application, and compost incorporation in soil following 3 days after lime surface application, respectively. Therefore, lime and livestock manure compost application at the same time was not recommended for abatement of ammonia emission in upland soil.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.406-412
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• 2008

Biogas plant with anaerobic digestion is receiving high attention as a facility for both livestock waste treatment and electric power generation. Objective of this study was to perform life cycle assessment (LCA) of a biogas plant which incorporates swine and food waste (7:3) as source materials for biogas production. In addition, the biogas production process was compared with the prevalent composting method as a reference in the aspects of green house gas (GHG) reduction potential and environmental impact. The biogas method was capable of reducing 52 kg $CO_2$ eq. emission per ton of swine/food waste, but the composting process was estimated to emit 268 kg $CO_2$ eq. into air. The biogas method was evaluated as more beneficial to the environment by mitigating the impact on abiotic depletion potential (ADP), global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), eutrophication potential (EP), and photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), but not to acidification potential (AP).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1864-1872
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• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ecklonia stolonifera (E. stolonifera) extract addition on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, methanogenesis and microbial populations. Methods: One cannulated Holstein cow ($450{\pm}30kg$) consuming timothy hay and a commercial concentrate (60:40, w/w) twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) at 2% of body weight with free access to water and mineral block were used as rumen fluid donors. In vitro fermentation experiment, with timothy hay as substrate, was conducted for up to 72 h, with E. stolonifera extract added to achieve final concentration 1%, 3%, and 5% on timothy hay basis. Results: Administration of E. stolonifera extract to a ruminant fluid-artificial saliva mixture in vitro increased the total gas production. Unexpectedly, E. stolonifera extracts appeared to increase both methane emissions and hydrogen production, which is contrasts with previous observations with brown algae extracts used under in vitro fermentation conditions. Interestingly, real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that as compared with the untreated control the ciliate-associated methanogen and Fibrobacter succinogenes populations decreased, whereas the Ruminococcus flavefaciens population increased as a result of E. stolonifera extract supplementation. Conclusion: E. stolonifera showed no detrimental effect on rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial population. Through these results E. stolonifera has potential as a viable feed supplement to ruminants.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.149-160
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised about the impact of recent high concentrations of fine dust on human health. Ammonia(NH₃) reacts with sulfur oxides and nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere to form ultrafine ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate (PM2.5). There is a growing need for accurate estimates of the amount of ammonia emitted during agricultural production. Therefore, in this study, ammonia emissions generated from the cultivation of leafy perilla in plastic houses were determined. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cow manure compost, swine manure compost, and poultry manure compost each at 34.6 ton ha^-1, the amount commonly used by farmers in the field, was sprayed on the soil surface. Just after spraying cow manure compost, swine manure compost, and poultry manure compost, the ammonia was periodically measured and analyzed to be 22.5 kg ha^-1, 22.8 kg ha^-1, and 85.2 kg ha^-1, respectively. The emission factors were estimated at 70.0 kg-NH₃ ton-N, 62.8 kg-NH₃ ton-N, and 234.1 kg-NH₃ ton-N, respectively. Most ammonia was released in the two weeks after application of the compost and then the amount released gradually decreased. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is necessary to improve the emission factor through a study on the estimation of ammonia emission by type of livestock manure and major farming types such as rice fields and uplands, and to update data on the production, distribution, and sales of livestock manure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.86-91
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• 2012

An in vitro rumen batch culture study was completed to compare effects of common grasses, leguminous shrubs and non-leguminous shrubs used for livestock grazing in Australia and Ghana on $CH_4$ production and fermentation characteristics. Grass species included Andropodon gayanus, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Pennisetum purpureum. Leguminous shrub species included Cajanus cajan, Cratylia argentea, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Stylosanthes guianensis and non-leguminous shrub species included Annona senegalensis, Moringa oleifera, Securinega virosa and Vitellaria paradoxa. Leaves were harvested, dried at $55^{\circ}C$ and ground through a 1 mm screen. Serum bottles containing 500 mg of forage, modified McDougall's buffer and rumen fluid were incubated under anaerobic conditions at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Samples of each forage type were removed after 0, 2, 6, 12 and 24 h of incubation for determination of cumulative gas production. Methane production, ammonia concentration and proportions of VFA were measured at 24 h. Concentration of aNDF (g/kg DM) ranged from 671 to 713 (grasses), 377 to 590 (leguminous shrubs) and 288 to 517 (non-leguminous shrubs). After 24 h of in vitro incubation, cumulative gas, $CH_4$ production, ammonia concentration, proportion of propionate in VFA and IVDMD differed (p<0.05) within each forage type. B. ruziziensis and G. sepium produced the highest cumulative gas, IVDMD, total VFA, proportion of propionate in VFA and the lowest A:P ratios within their forage types. Consequently, these two species produced moderate $CH_4$ emissions without compromising digestion. Grazing of these two species may be a strategy to reduce $CH_4$ emissions however further assessment in in vivo trials and at different stages of maturity is recommended.