Huella de carbono de la ganadería bovina de carne y leche en Colombia, para cinco departamentos – año 2016

Abstract

This research analyzes livestock systems based on bovine meat and milk production in Colombia, integrating livestock practices that generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by identifying feed, manure, loss management as emission sources and the use of energy, in combination with the production systems and type of herd, which cause the emission charge of (GHG) in the atmosphere and limitations on the carbon footprint (HDC). The study presents the application of the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) based on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), which is considered as a methodological tool to estimate GHG emissions from bovine livestock production activities, where the different emission sources and the types of gases such as CO2, CH4 and N2O, present in the HdC are distinguished according to the type of herd; meat and milk, and production system; pastures and mixed. Taking as a case study the departments of Antioquia, Casanare, Cesar, Córdoba and Meta, in 2016, modified in the information of the National Agricultural Census -CNA year 2014 and the National Agricultural Survey -ENA year 2016. The results that show the mixed systems of the meat herd generated the highest intensity of GHG emissions associated with HDC, finding methane as the predominant gas derived from enteric fermentation. These variables vary to a significant increase in global warming, positioning the impact of the livestock sector as damaging to the environment, requiring a significant reduction in production and consumption in the key sectors that require the greatest contribution to HDC and therefore to climate change (CC). Which translates into an alert for Colombia, being necessary strategies for sustainable transformation through the application of the mitigation potential as a strategy to guide livestock production towards an ecological economy.