Guest post by Fabiana Surace, CMO and Environmental Scientist at Cynomys
Introduction: Beyond Numbers, Into Reality
When discussing livestock emissions, the debate often focuses on global figures: percentages, tons of CO₂ equivalents, and comparisons between species.
But how accurately do these numbers reflect what actually happens inside barns every day?
And more importantly:
How measurable, controllable, and useful are these figures for farmers?
To answer these questions, it is useful to start from two of the most widely referenced frameworks: the FAO report Tackling Climate Change through Livestock and the IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories.
Emissions from cattle farming, in particular, are increasingly central to the sustainability of the livestock sector. However, a significant gap still exists between theoretical data and real on-farm conditions.
Understanding how emissions are generated—and, crucially, how they can be measured through continuous environmental monitoring—is key to improving animal welfare and making livestock production more sustainable and competitive.
Livestock Emissions: Distribution by Species
According to the FAO, livestock accounts for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Estimates vary depending on methodology (LCA vs. direct emissions).
Within this share:
- Cattle contribute around 65%
- Pigs about 9%
- Poultry about 8%
- Sheep and goats about 6%
These figures are often simplified, but they mask a more complex reality: emissions differ in both origin and mitigation potential.
In cattle systems, the largest share is linked to enteric fermentation and overall farm management.
Dairy Cattle: Environment, Emissions, and Productivity
In dairy systems, emissions are influenced by both biological and environmental factors. Methane from enteric fermentation is a physiological process, affected by nutrition, health status, and environmental conditions.
However, the barn environment plays a critical role.
Air quality, temperature, and humidity directly affect:
- Feed intake
- Metabolism
- Feed efficiency
- Milk production
Heat stress or the accumulation of gases such as ammonia, CO₂, and methane can reduce productivity while increasing emissions per unit of output.
The result?
Higher emissions per liter of milk produced.
Pigs and Poultry: The Role of Environmental Management
In pig and poultry systems, emissions mainly derive from:
- Manure management
- Feed production
- Energy consumption
In these systems, the concentration of barn gases like ammonia and CO₂ is a direct indicator of management efficiency.
Poor environmental control leads to:
- Higher emissions
- Reduced animal welfare
- Lower productivity
- Increased risk of respiratory issues and heat stress
Emissions as a Sign of Inefficiency
Emissions are not just an environmental issue—they also signal inefficiencies.
As highlighted by the FAO, methane, nitrous oxide, and ammonia represent losses of energy and nutrients.
On a farm, this translates into:
- Lower feed conversion efficiency
- Reduced productivity
- Higher environmental impact
Improving system efficiency therefore addresses both sustainability and economic performance.
In simple terms:
Energy that does not become milk, meat, or eggs—and nitrogen not utilized by the animal—are resources lost to the environment.
This shifts the perspective:
Reducing emissions is not only an environmental goal, but also a management and economic opportunity.
The Critical Point: How Are Emissions Measured?
Here lies a key gap between science and farm reality.
Emissions are typically estimated using models developed by international organizations such as the IPCC and FAO. These estimates rely on:
- Mathematical models
- Literature averages
- Controlled experimental conditions
While essential for comparability across countries, these approaches are not designed to capture farm-level variability.
Highly accurate tools—such as metabolic chambers or SF₆ tracer techniques—are mostly confined to experimental settings and are difficult to apply at scale.
As a result, a gap emerges between:
- Scientific data
- Real farm conditions
Many estimates fail to reflect the true variability of livestock operations.
From Models to Barns: The Value of Continuous Environmental Monitoring
Continuous environmental monitoring is emerging as a practical solution to bridge this gap.
Rather than relying solely on models, this approach focuses on directly measuring the environment where animals live.
Using multi-sensor systems in barns, it is now possible to monitor in real time:
- Ammonia (NH₃)
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
- Ambient methane (CH₄)*
- Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5)
- Temperature and humidity (THI)
- Light levels
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Data accuracy depends on proper sensor placement, calibration, and barn ventilation conditions.
These data enable farmers to:
- Optimize ventilation management
- Prevent critical situations
- Improve production efficiency
- Enhance animal welfare
- Reduce emissions
Ambient methane reflects both enteric and manure-related emissions but cannot be attributed to individual animals. It remains a valuable operational indicator for barn management.
Environmental Data and Farm Management
These measurements do not replace models—they complement them by bringing data closer to reality.
For farmers, the true value lies in practical application: knowing when and how to act.
This may include adjusting ventilation, improving manure handling, or managing microclimatic conditions to prevent health issues and improve performance.
Continuous monitoring enables:
- Data-driven decision-making
- Improved productivity
- Reduced costs linked to environmental inefficiencies
A dataset becomes valuable when it is continuous, readable, and actionable.
At the same time, environmental monitoring enhances traceability across the supply chain.
Practical Example: From Data to Action
In a dairy barn, an increase in ammonia (NH₃) concentration may indicate insufficient ventilation or suboptimal manure management.
Timely intervention—such as increasing ventilation or improving manure handling—can:
- Improve air quality
- Reduce respiratory stress
- Increase feed intake
- Boost productivity
The outcome is lower emissions per liter of milk, achieved through better environmental management.
Transparency, Trust, and Consumer Perception
Livestock emissions are often perceived in a simplified and polarized way.
In reality:
- Not all emissions are equal
- Not all farms have the same impact
- Significant improvement opportunities exist
Access to real, contextualized data enables more transparent communication.
For dairy supply chains—especially those linked to PDO products—this represents a strategic advantage to highlight:
- Sustainability
- Animal welfare
- Product quality
These elements are closely interconnected and increasingly relevant to consumers.
Conclusion: From Estimation to Measurement
Livestock emissions cannot be fully understood through theoretical models alone.
The complexity of farming systems requires tools capable of describing real conditions.
Continuous environmental monitoring transforms data into operational knowledge, improving farm management and supporting a more sustainable approach.
Measuring, analyzing, and acting are now the foundation of a more efficient, competitive, and responsible livestock system.
Monitoring itself does not directly reduce emissions—but it enables targeted interventions on the factors that generate them.
The real paradigm shift is not just reducing emissions, but measuring them better—moving from averages to real, contextualized data.
This leads to better decisions on farm, more credible certifications, and greater trust across the entire supply chain.
- Journal of Cleaner Production (2025). Precision livestock farming for climate-resilient livestock management.
- MDPI Animals (2024). Advances in Methane Emission Estimation in Livestock.
- Frontiers (2024). Adoption of precision livestock farming technologies has potential to reduce GHG emissions.
- *IPCC (2019). 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.*
- IPCC (2019). Chapter 10: Emissions from Livestock and Manure Management.
- FAO (2017) – Livestock & Climate Change (overview aggiornata)
- FAO (2013). Tackling Climate Change through Livestock: A Global Assessment of Emissions and Mitigation Opportunities.
- Storm, I. M. L. D., et al. (2012). Methods for measuring and estimating methane emission from ruminants. Animals
- Garnsworthy, P. C., et al. (2012). On-farm methane measurements during milking…. Journal of Dairy Science.
- IPCC (2006). 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
