Greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production tripled those from household consumption in the Eurasian desert steppe

Abstract Background Family ranches are major sources of livestock-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in global pastoral ecosystems. We conducted semi-structured interviews and collected data on livestock production and the livelihoods of 235 family ranches in a desert steppe of Inner Mongolia where intensive pastoral management is practiced. A cradle-to-farmgate life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed with functional units standardized as 1 kg live weight (LW) for beef cattle and meat sheep breeds. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to elucidate the socioeconomic forcing mechanisms on GHG emissions. Results Live weight GHG emission varied substantially by livestock type, descending from cows (59.89 kg CO 2 e/kg) to yearlings (36.32 kg CO 2 e/kg), bulls (22.26 kg CO 2 e/kg), calves (20.92 kg CO 2 e/kg) and meat sheep breeds (19.66 kg CO 2 e/kg), and GHG emissions from livestock production accounted 77.95% of the total GHG emissions of the family ranches, more than three times those from household life consumption (22.05%). Enteric fermentation in livestock was the dominant GHG emission source (68.15%), followed by food consumption (8.58%) and coal combustion (8.13%). Among demographic characteristics, economic status appears the primary factor influencing the total GHG emission. Conclusions Our micro-scale analysis provides insight for addressing GHG mitigation in pastoral systems through coupling the socioeconomic forcing mechanisms on methane emissions. We advocate the use of methane-inhibiting feed additives and shifts toward heating systems that use renewable energy while sustaining pastoral life, offering actionable pathways for low-carbon transition in extensively grazed pastoral systems.