Advanced Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Reduction in the Domestic Livestock Sector

The livestock sector is essential for food supply and economic benefits, but it emits greenhouse gases during enteric fermentation and livestock manure treatment. This study evaluates carbon neutrality scenarios based on the 2050 NDC and calculates greenhouse gas emissions and reduction potential based on current and projected livestock numbers. Key mitigation strategies include using low-methane feed, reducing nitrogen emissions in manure treatment by decreasing crude protein in feed, and increasing the proportion of energy recovery from pig manure. This study utilizes Tier 1 emission factors from the 1996 IPCC guidelines to assess greenhouse gas reduction and the feasibility of achieving carbon neutrality. Scenario analysis predicts that improving digestion and reducing nitrogen could achieve approximately 1,200 thousand ton-CO2eq in reductions, while an additional reduction of about 600 thousand ton-CO2eq is needed in the manure treatment sector. Improvements in manure treatment methods are essential for achieving carbon neutrality goals. With the increase in domestic meat consumption, livestock numbers are expected to continue to rise. Given key issues such as the reduction of arable land, existing resource recovery methods (such as composting) have limitations. Therefore, improving manure treatment methods is essential for achieving carbon neutrality in the livestock sector, and additional measures, including energy recovery from pig manure and biogas production from cattle manure, are required.