Greenhouse gas emissions from Uganda's cattle corridor farming systems

• Published in: Agricultural systems 2019-11, Vol.176, p.102649, Article 102649
• Main Authors: Kiggundu, Nicholas, Ddungu, Stanley Peter, Wanyama, Joshua, Cherotich, Sam, Mpairwe, Denis, Zziwa, Emmanuel, Mutebi, Faizal, Falcucci, Alessandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cattle farming systems; Emission; GLEAM-i; Greenhouse gases; Manure management
• ISSN: 0308-521X; 1873-2267
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2019.102649

The objective of this study was to estimate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from practised cattle farming systems (Stall, Semi-Intensive, Grazing, Tethering and Scavenging) and identify potential areas for GHG mitigation. Using the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM-i), GHG emissions in 2016 were 2009 Gg CO2-eq/yr of which the Grazing system contributed 88.5%. Enteric fermentation produced about 75.8% of the total GHG emissions. At an annual growth rate of 3%, the projected GHG for 2020 and 2025 would increase by 12.6% and 30.7% respectively. The milk and meat emission intensities were far higher than the global averages. A reduction in grazing by 10% and a 10% increase in use of anaerobic digesters to handle manure resulted in a 4.4% reduction in annual GHG emission. •Cattle feeding was predominantly grass and manure was stored mainly using solid storage.•The area was characterized by low productivity and high GHG emission intensities.•Reduced grass use and increased anaerobic digester use reduce GHG by 4.4% annually.