Environmental footprint initiative : agricultural working group milestone 3 : land based farmed animals : flows/direct emissions related to feed digestion and manure management at the facility

The Environmental Footprint (EF) methods, recommended by the European Commission, offer a framework for assessing the environmental impact of various sectors. This report outlines the findings from the Agricultural Working Group (AWG), milestone 3, focusing on emissions related to feed digestion and manure management in land-based farmed animals. The livestock sector significantly impacts climate change, contributing to methane and ammonia emissions. The report proposes operational recommendations to enhance the modelling of these emissions, including enteric methane and nitrogenous emissions, by adopting a tier-based approach and considering feed characteristics. It highlights the importance of accurately characterizing feed intake and composition to assess the emissions footprint accurately. The policy relevance of this work is reflected in its potential to refine emission estimation methods, support technological advancements, and promote better farm management strategies, ultimately aiding in the development of environmentally sustainable livestock production practices within the EF framework.