Estimation of On-Farm Greenhouse Gas Emissions

from Poultry Houses

C. S. DunkleyDept. Poultry ScienceUniversity of Georgia

Recent findingsIntroduction

Chicken- 2.36 kg CO2e/kg of product at farm gate

Beef- 14.8 kg CO2e/kg of product at farm gate

Pork- 3.4-4.2 kg CO2e/kg of product at farm gate (Pelletier, 2010)

(Pelletier et al., 2010)

(Pelletier, 2008)

2 Studies

• Broiler Complex– 627 houses were tested:

• Broiler- 87 farms, 538 houses

• Breeder- 15 farms, 55 houses

• Pullet- 7 farms, 34 houses

• Layer Complex– 12 house in-line complex

• Upstream and downstream emissions were not considered

Inventory in Scopes

Scope 1

Scope 2

Scope 3

Data Collection and Evaluation

• Survey distributed to growers • Survey questions included:

– Electricity usage– Propane use– Diesel oil use– Age of house– Construction of house– Number of birds raised each year, etc.– Refrigerant use

• GHG emissions estimated using IPPC spreadsheets some of which were pre-populated with emission factors.

Types of Emissions• Mechanical– Purchased Electricity– Mobile machinery– Stationary machinery

• Non-mechanical– Enteric fermentation – Manure management

Mechanical Emissions

• ~96% of GHG emitted on broiler and pullet farms is from propane use

• ~82% of GHG emitted on breeder farms is from electricity use

Results

Broiler House Breeder House Pullet House0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Stationary Combustion Transportation FuelPurchased Electricity

CO

2eq

uiv

alen

t

Mechanical Emissions

• Avg. broiler house emits ~790 tonne CO2e

• Avg. breeder house emits ~35 tonne CO2e

• Avg. pullet house emits ~448 tonne CO2e

Results

tonn

es C

O2e

/yr

Broiler House Breeder House Pullet House0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Stationary Combustion Transportation Fuel Purchased Electricity

Non-Mechanical Emissions

Broiler Houses Breeder Houses Pullet Houses Layer Houses0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

50.96

32.78

46.49

138.9675

8

32.53

15.25

42.9125

N2O emissions CH4 Emissions

tonn

es C

O2e

/yr

Manure management system in laying Hen house

GHG Inventory- Broiler House

Emissions CategoriesGHG Emissions (metric tonnes)

Base Period: 2009

CO2 CH4 N2O CO2e

Scope 1

Mechanical

Mobile Machinery 2.58 0.0004 0.00007 2.58

Stationary Machinery 764.91 0.0606 0.0012 766.783

Total 767.49 0.061 0.00127 769.363

Non-mechanical        

Enteric fermentation - - -  

Manure management - 0.32 0.1614 56.1

Total - 0.32 0.1614 56.1

Total Scope 1 767.49 0.381 0.16267 825.463

Scope 2        

Purchased Electricity 21.52 0.0004 0.0004 21.54

Total Scope 2 21.52 0.0004 0.0004 21.54

Total Scopes 789.01 0.3215 0.16307 847.003

Total Mechanical 767.49 0.061 0.00127 769.363

Total Non-mechanical - 0.32 0.16267 56.1

Emissions CategoriesGHG Emissions (metric tonnes)

Base Period: 2010

CO2 CH4 N2O CO2e

Scope 1

Mechanical

Mobile Machinery 45.675 0.00648 0.00117 46.174Stationary Machinery 683.373 5.415 1.083 685.049Total 728.448 5.421 1.084 731.223Non-mechanical Enteric fermentation - - - Manure management - 20.6 5.7 2199.6Total - 20.6 5.7 2199.6Total Scope 1 728.448 26.012 6.78 3376.5

Scope 2 Purchased Electricity 1169.751 0.0199 0.0193 1176.152Total Scope 2 1169.751 0.0199 0.0193 1176.152

Total Scopes 1 & 2 1898.199 26.22 6.98 4546.251

Scope 3 Users of refrigerant equipment 32.87Total Scope 3 32.87

Total Scopes 4585.522Total Mechanical 728.448 5.42 1.084 731.238Total Non-mechanical - 20.6 5.70 2182.56

GHG Inventory- 12 House Laying Hen Complex

Reducing GHG emissions

• Reducing energy use will also reduce the amount of GHGs that is emitted

• Reduction must to be done on a farm by farm basis

• Reduce propane use by preventing heat loss;– Enclose houses that are

not solid walls– Insulate curtain openings,

walls and ceiling

17.7%

53.1%

28.4%0.8%

Mechanical Emissions Non-mechanical Emissions Electricity Refridgerant

66%

29%

6%

91%

3%7%

Broiler Farm

Breeder Farm

89%

3%8%

Pullet Farm

Layer Farm

Reducing GHG emissions

• Reducing energy use will also reduce the amount of GHGs that is emitted

• Reduction must to be done on a farm by farm basis

• Reduce propane use by preventing heat loss;– Enclose houses that are

not solid walls– Insulate curtain openings,

walls and ceiling

Emissions based on house age

5

10

20

24

0.00 200.00 400.00 600.00 800.00 1000.00 1200.00

647.86

1027.02

949.06

1027.26

Total GHG

Tonnes CO2 equivalents

Age

of

hou

se in

yea

rs

Four farms with similar age and structure houses

House 1 House 2 House 3 House 40

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

Diesel kwh Propane Total GHG

Tonn

es C

O2e

Reducing GHG emissions

• Reducing energy use will also reduce the amount of GHGs that is emitted

• Reduction must to be done on a farm by farm basis

• Reduce propane use by preventing heat loss;– Enclose houses that are

not solid walls– Insulate curtain openings,

walls and ceiling

Three houses with similar age but different type of construction

Combination sides Curtain sided Solid walled0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Diesel kwh Propane Total GHG

Ton

nes

CO

2e

Reducing GHG emissions- mechanical

• Use the attic area as a solar energy collector;– Install attic outlets

• Use more efficient equipment such as;– Fans, generators, lighting, heaters

• Maintenance of equipment;– Clean fans– Clean outlets/inlets– Change fan belts as needed

Reducing GHG emissions- Manure Management

1. Manure handled as a solid or spread on land, decompose aerobically and produce little or no CH4

2. Proper management of bedding (indoor) and manure heaps (in storage sheds) will reduce GHG emissions • Avoid prolonged litter storage to reduce CH4 emissions• Minimize compaction• Frequent addition of litter• Keep litter dry and covered from the elements

1. Add nitrification inhibitors to reduce NH3 emissions

2. Addition of high carbon substrate to manure heaps

3. Compaction of manure heap to reduce aeration

4. N2O emission from poultry litter is higher than synthetic fertilizer…but,

5. Applying poultry litter to agricultural fields off-sets 10% energy use and 1% GHG emissions (Pelletier et al., 2010)

Reducing GHG emissions- Manure Management

Research Opportunities

– Actual CH4 and N20 emissions from poultry houses and stack houses

– Emissions from poultry litter application to crop lands

– Carbon sequestration from poultry litter application

– Emissions factors from enteric fermentation for birds.