Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity

Autores
Loza, C.; Chilibroste, P.; Menegazzi, G.; Gil-Zibil, L.; Dorao, C.; Carriquiry, M.; Ortega, G.; Cerón Cucchi, María Esperanza; Gere, José Ignacio
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Meeting the growing demand for high-quality animal protein while minimising environmental impact is a major challenge for dairy systems. In Uruguay, where livestock production accounts for roughly 73% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly from enteric methane (CH 4), pasture-based dairy systems must adapt to align with sustainability goals. This study evaluated whether two pasture-based dairy systems with contrasting intensification strategies could maintain low CH 4 emissions while sustaining productive efficiency. A low-input, operationally simple system (OS) with a stocking rate of 1.8 livestock units per hectare (LU/ha) was compared with a higher-input, productivity-oriented system (HP) at 3.0 LU/ha. Both systems were based on perennial pastures of similar botanical composition and managed under structured rotational grazing. Enteric CH 4 emissions were measured during winter and spring 2023 in 24 Holstein and Holstein × Jersey cows (12 per system), using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6) gas-tracer technique. Milk yield and diet composition were also evaluated. Despite the higher stocking rate (SR) and greater annual milk yield in the HP system (10 106 vs 7 262 kg of milk per hectare), daily methane emissions per cow (280 g CH 4 /cow per day) and CH 4 emission intensity corrected per kg of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) were similar between systems (11 g CH 4 /kg FPCM, on average). However, CH 4 emissions per hectare were higher in the HP system (9.1 vs 6.8 kg CH 4 /ha per day), reflecting the impact of the higher SR on total emissions. When compared with values commonly reported for pasture-based dairy systems (10-21 g CH 4 /kg FPCM), both systems were at the lower end of this range for CH 4 intensity. These findings suggest that well-managed pasture-based dairy systems can sustain different inten-sification strategies without compromising environmental performance. However, continued efforts are needed to improve resource use efficiency and further reduce total greenhouse gas emissions.
Fil: Loza, C.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Chilibroste, P.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Menegazzi, G.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Gil-Zibil, L.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Dorao, C.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Carriquiry, M.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Ortega, G.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Cerón Cucchi, María Esperanza. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigacion En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas. Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Pque. Centenario. Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria.; Argentina
Fil: Gere, José Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo de las Ingenierías; Argentina
Materia
Dairy cattle
Diverse pastures
Methane Season
Sustainability
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/287987
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/287987
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivityLoza, C.Chilibroste, P.Menegazzi, G.Gil-Zibil, L.Dorao, C.Carriquiry, M.Ortega, G.Cerón Cucchi, María EsperanzaGere, José IgnacioDairy cattleDiverse pasturesMethane SeasonSustainabilityhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/4.2https://purl.org/becyt/ford/4Meeting the growing demand for high-quality animal protein while minimising environmental impact is a major challenge for dairy systems. In Uruguay, where livestock production accounts for roughly 73% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly from enteric methane (CH 4), pasture-based dairy systems must adapt to align with sustainability goals. This study evaluated whether two pasture-based dairy systems with contrasting intensification strategies could maintain low CH 4 emissions while sustaining productive efficiency. A low-input, operationally simple system (OS) with a stocking rate of 1.8 livestock units per hectare (LU/ha) was compared with a higher-input, productivity-oriented system (HP) at 3.0 LU/ha. Both systems were based on perennial pastures of similar botanical composition and managed under structured rotational grazing. Enteric CH 4 emissions were measured during winter and spring 2023 in 24 Holstein and Holstein × Jersey cows (12 per system), using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6) gas-tracer technique. Milk yield and diet composition were also evaluated. Despite the higher stocking rate (SR) and greater annual milk yield in the HP system (10 106 vs 7 262 kg of milk per hectare), daily methane emissions per cow (280 g CH 4 /cow per day) and CH 4 emission intensity corrected per kg of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) were similar between systems (11 g CH 4 /kg FPCM, on average). However, CH 4 emissions per hectare were higher in the HP system (9.1 vs 6.8 kg CH 4 /ha per day), reflecting the impact of the higher SR on total emissions. When compared with values commonly reported for pasture-based dairy systems (10-21 g CH 4 /kg FPCM), both systems were at the lower end of this range for CH 4 intensity. These findings suggest that well-managed pasture-based dairy systems can sustain different inten-sification strategies without compromising environmental performance. However, continued efforts are needed to improve resource use efficiency and further reduce total greenhouse gas emissions.Fil: Loza, C.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Chilibroste, P.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Menegazzi, G.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Gil-Zibil, L.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Dorao, C.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Carriquiry, M.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Ortega, G.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Cerón Cucchi, María Esperanza. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigacion En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas. Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Pque. Centenario. Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria.; ArgentinaFil: Gere, José Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo de las Ingenierías; ArgentinaElsevier2026-03info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/287987Loza, C.; Chilibroste, P.; Menegazzi, G.; Gil-Zibil, L.; Dorao, C.; et al.; Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity; Elsevier; Animal - Open Space; 5; 3-2026; 1-92772-6940CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.anopes.2025.100125info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2026-06-17T09:38:30Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/287987instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982026-06-17 09:38:30.775CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity
title Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity
spellingShingle Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity
Loza, C.
Dairy cattle
Diverse pastures
Methane Season
Sustainability
title_short Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity
title_full Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity
title_fullStr Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity
title_full_unstemmed Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity
title_sort Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Loza, C.
Chilibroste, P.
Menegazzi, G.
Gil-Zibil, L.
Dorao, C.
Carriquiry, M.
Ortega, G.
Cerón Cucchi, María Esperanza
Gere, José Ignacio
author Loza, C.
author_facet Loza, C.
Chilibroste, P.
Menegazzi, G.
Gil-Zibil, L.
Dorao, C.
Carriquiry, M.
Ortega, G.
Cerón Cucchi, María Esperanza
Gere, José Ignacio
author_role author
author2 Chilibroste, P.
Menegazzi, G.
Gil-Zibil, L.
Dorao, C.
Carriquiry, M.
Ortega, G.
Cerón Cucchi, María Esperanza
Gere, José Ignacio
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Dairy cattle
Diverse pastures
Methane Season
Sustainability
topic Dairy cattle
Diverse pastures
Methane Season
Sustainability
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/4.2
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/4
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Meeting the growing demand for high-quality animal protein while minimising environmental impact is a major challenge for dairy systems. In Uruguay, where livestock production accounts for roughly 73% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly from enteric methane (CH 4), pasture-based dairy systems must adapt to align with sustainability goals. This study evaluated whether two pasture-based dairy systems with contrasting intensification strategies could maintain low CH 4 emissions while sustaining productive efficiency. A low-input, operationally simple system (OS) with a stocking rate of 1.8 livestock units per hectare (LU/ha) was compared with a higher-input, productivity-oriented system (HP) at 3.0 LU/ha. Both systems were based on perennial pastures of similar botanical composition and managed under structured rotational grazing. Enteric CH 4 emissions were measured during winter and spring 2023 in 24 Holstein and Holstein × Jersey cows (12 per system), using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6) gas-tracer technique. Milk yield and diet composition were also evaluated. Despite the higher stocking rate (SR) and greater annual milk yield in the HP system (10 106 vs 7 262 kg of milk per hectare), daily methane emissions per cow (280 g CH 4 /cow per day) and CH 4 emission intensity corrected per kg of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) were similar between systems (11 g CH 4 /kg FPCM, on average). However, CH 4 emissions per hectare were higher in the HP system (9.1 vs 6.8 kg CH 4 /ha per day), reflecting the impact of the higher SR on total emissions. When compared with values commonly reported for pasture-based dairy systems (10-21 g CH 4 /kg FPCM), both systems were at the lower end of this range for CH 4 intensity. These findings suggest that well-managed pasture-based dairy systems can sustain different inten-sification strategies without compromising environmental performance. However, continued efforts are needed to improve resource use efficiency and further reduce total greenhouse gas emissions.
Fil: Loza, C.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Chilibroste, P.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Menegazzi, G.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Gil-Zibil, L.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Dorao, C.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Carriquiry, M.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Ortega, G.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay
Fil: Cerón Cucchi, María Esperanza. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigacion En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas. Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Pque. Centenario. Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria.; Argentina
Fil: Gere, José Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo de las Ingenierías; Argentina
description Meeting the growing demand for high-quality animal protein while minimising environmental impact is a major challenge for dairy systems. In Uruguay, where livestock production accounts for roughly 73% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly from enteric methane (CH 4), pasture-based dairy systems must adapt to align with sustainability goals. This study evaluated whether two pasture-based dairy systems with contrasting intensification strategies could maintain low CH 4 emissions while sustaining productive efficiency. A low-input, operationally simple system (OS) with a stocking rate of 1.8 livestock units per hectare (LU/ha) was compared with a higher-input, productivity-oriented system (HP) at 3.0 LU/ha. Both systems were based on perennial pastures of similar botanical composition and managed under structured rotational grazing. Enteric CH 4 emissions were measured during winter and spring 2023 in 24 Holstein and Holstein × Jersey cows (12 per system), using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6) gas-tracer technique. Milk yield and diet composition were also evaluated. Despite the higher stocking rate (SR) and greater annual milk yield in the HP system (10 106 vs 7 262 kg of milk per hectare), daily methane emissions per cow (280 g CH 4 /cow per day) and CH 4 emission intensity corrected per kg of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) were similar between systems (11 g CH 4 /kg FPCM, on average). However, CH 4 emissions per hectare were higher in the HP system (9.1 vs 6.8 kg CH 4 /ha per day), reflecting the impact of the higher SR on total emissions. When compared with values commonly reported for pasture-based dairy systems (10-21 g CH 4 /kg FPCM), both systems were at the lower end of this range for CH 4 intensity. These findings suggest that well-managed pasture-based dairy systems can sustain different inten-sification strategies without compromising environmental performance. However, continued efforts are needed to improve resource use efficiency and further reduce total greenhouse gas emissions.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-03
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/287987
Loza, C.; Chilibroste, P.; Menegazzi, G.; Gil-Zibil, L.; Dorao, C.; et al.; Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity; Elsevier; Animal - Open Space; 5; 3-2026; 1-9
2772-6940
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/287987
identifier_str_mv Loza, C.; Chilibroste, P.; Menegazzi, G.; Gil-Zibil, L.; Dorao, C.; et al.; Methane emissions in pasture-based systems with contrasting intensification strategies in Uruguay in two periods: operational simplicity vs maximised productivity; Elsevier; Animal - Open Space; 5; 3-2026; 1-9
2772-6940
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.anopes.2025.100125
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 13.040872

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