DREEM: model on enteric methane emissions in sheep farms
Résumé
Ruminant livestock systems are significant sources of greenhouse gases. Herd mobility is known as a major adaptation strategy regarding seasonal availability of forage resources. The present study aims at quantifying enteric methane (CH4) emissions from French Mediterranean sheep farming systems, especially the use of diversified pastoral feed resources, using a simulation model (Diversity of feed REsources and Enteric Methane emissions, DREEM). DREEM model was developed to estimate animal enteric CH4 emissions from empirical equations and to be subsequently integrated, as a sub-model, to an economic and GHG balance model (OSTRAL) at the whole farm level. Several equations were chosen from literature data to estimate enteric CH4 emissions. Forage and Feed natures, animal feeding level and performances were referenced according to INRA feeding system and tables. DREEM was applied to the analysis of four case studies covering main contrasted mobility and farming systems situations: from sedentary to highly mobile pastoral systems, in the French Mediterranean area. Overall, equation 1 always gave higher enteric CH4 estimates than the 3 other ones and small variations were observed between the four equations as the standard deviation within each farming system varied from 2.0 to 3.1 g/kg DMI and from 1.1 and 1.6 kg/head/year. At the individual level, enteric CH4 emissions (g / d) of ewes in sedentary system are higher than those of ewes in other systems. These differences are mainly due to differences in animal feeding level and feed resources characteristics in these systems. DREEM model could estimate enteric CH4 emissions at the animal level and be combined to OSTRAL.